natriuretic-peptide--brain and Fever

The postmortem diagnosis of heat-related deaths presents certain difficulties. Firstly, preterminal or terminal body temperatures are often not available. Additionally, macroscopic and microscopic findings are nonspecific or inconclusive and depend on survival duration after exposure. The diagnosis of hyperthermia is therefore essentially based on scene investigation, the circumstances of death, and the reasonable exclusion of other causes of death. Immunohistochemistry and postmortem biochemical investigations have been performed by several authors in order to better circumstantiate the physiopathology of hyperthermia and provide further information to confirm or exclude a heat-related cause of death. Biochemical markers, such as electrolytes, hormones, blood proteins, enzymes, and neurotransmitters, have been analyzed in blood and other biological fluids to improve the diagnostic potential of autopsy, histology, and immunohistochemistry. The aim of this article is to present a review of the medicolegal literature pertaining to the postmortem biochemical investigations that are associated with heat-related deaths.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Biomarkers; Blood Urea Nitrogen; C-Reactive Protein; Calcitonin; Calcium; Catecholamines; Chlorides; Chromogranin A; Creatine Kinase, MB Form; Creatinine; Electrolytes; Fever; Forensic Pathology; Growth Hormone; Heat Stroke; Humans; Magnesium; Myocardium; Myoglobin; Myoglobinuria; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Neopterin; Protein Precursors; Sodium; Troponin; Tryptases; Uric Acid; Vitreous Body

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been studied as a diagnostic screening tool for Kawasaki disease (KD). However, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been less studied while has less variability among age groups. We aimed to find out if BNP can be used as a diagnostic screening tool for KD in Korea. This was a retrospective cohort study performed in a single pediatric emergency department. Patients younger than 19 years of age who presented with fever and underwent BNP examination for suspected KD was included. The primary outcome was the diagnostic performance of BNP for KD, and the secondary outcome was the diagnostic performance of BNP for coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). We also derived a scoring system for predicting KD and CAA. Of the 778 patients who were finally included, 400 were not diagnosed with KD and 378 were diagnosed with KD. The odds ratio of BNP at the cutoff of 30 pg/mL for KD was 7.80 (95% CI, 5.67-10.73) in the univariate analysis and 3.62 (95% CI, 2.33-5.88) in the multivariable analysis. The odds ratio of BNP at the cutoff of 270 pg/mL for CAA was 3.67 (95% CI, 2.18-6.19) in the univariate analysis and 2.37 (95% CI, 1.16-8.74) in the multivariable analysis. The AUC of KD and CAA were 0.884 and 0.726, respectively, which was the highest AUCs among all variables. Additionally, we proposed a scoring system for KD and CAA. It is important to clinically suspect KD and CAA in children with high BNP levels.

Topics: Biomarkers; Child; Coronary Aneurysm; Fever; Humans; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Retrospective Studies

A previously healthy 14-year-old boy developed right-sided neck pain, tachycardia, a diffuse erythematous rash, and subjective fevers over 2 days. He sought medical attention in a local urgent care clinic, where he had a negative Sars-CoV-2 antigen test and was referred to the local emergency department (ED) for persistent tachycardia and further workup. After fluid resuscitation, his tachycardia was not improved, so he was admitted to the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Service. Physical examination showed large areas of erythema and erythroderma of multiple body sites, perioral sparing, increased erythema in flexor skin folds, posterior soft palate petechiae, and a white strawberry tongue. There was a small, tender lesion with surrounding erythema without discharge on his right neck thought to be a possible entry point for infection. Laboratory results showed thrombocytopenia, normal white blood cell count, normal hemoglobin concentration, absolute lymphopenia, and an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) to 130 mg/L. He was started on intravenous fluids and antibiotics for a presumed infectious cause of the rash and laboratory findings. The next morning, an expanded diagnostic workup was undertaken including electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, ferritin, triglycerides, liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), brain natriuretic peptide, coagulation studies, and fibrinogen. With treatment and supportive care, his tachycardia and energy improved, so he was discharged with oral antibiotics and follow-up with the Infectious Disease Clinic in 2 days. When seen in follow-up, he was immediately admitted to the hospital for worsening fatigue, tachycardia, and new findings that prompted multiple consultations, and transfer to pediatric critical care services.

Topics: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; C-Reactive Protein; Child; COVID-19; Erythema; Exanthema; Ferritins; Fever; Fibrinogen; Humans; Lactate Dehydrogenases; Male; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Neck Pain; SARS-CoV-2; Triglycerides

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Acute Kidney Injury; Adolescent; Adult; Asthenia; Chest Pain; Conjunctivitis; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Care Units; COVID-19; Diarrhea; Dyspnea; Electrocardiography; Exanthema; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Female; Fever; France; Headache; Humans; Hypotension; Intensive Care Units; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Myocarditis; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Respiration, Artificial; SARS-CoV-2; Stroke Volume; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Tachycardia; Troponin; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left; Young Adult

A four- and a half-month-old girl with severe dilated cardiomyopathy due to neonatal enterovirus myocarditis, treated with diuretics and milrinone for the past 4 months, was infected with SARS-CoV-2. The disease course was characterised by high fever and gastrointestinal symptoms. Cardiac function, as measured by echocardiography, remained stable. The treatment focused on maintaining a normal heart rate and a stable fluid balance. In children with severe underlying cardiac disease, even a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection can require close monitoring and compound treatment.

Topics: Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Cardiotonic Agents; COVID-19; Diarrhea; Diuretics; Echocardiography; Enterovirus Infections; Female; Fever; Heart Rate; Heart Transplantation; Humans; Infant; Milrinone; Myocarditis; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; SARS-CoV-2; Severity of Illness Index; Tachycardia; Tachypnea; Troponin T; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left; Vomiting; Waiting Lists; Water-Electrolyte Balance

The novel 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) has largely abated in China; however, sporadic or imported cases are still a concern, while in other countries, the COVID-19 pandemic persists as a major health crisis.. All patients enrolled in this study were diagnosed with COVID-19 from February 21, 2020 to April 14, 2020 in Wuhan. We retrospectively analyzed the patients admitted to the ICU (137 patients) and general wards (114 patients) of Wuhan Leishenshan Hospital in China. The population characteristics, symptoms, and laboratory examination results between the patients in the ICU and those in the general wards were compared. Furthermore, the differences between the deceased patients in the ICU and those discharged from the ICU were compared.. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of symptoms, including fever, shortness of breath, no presence of complications, presence of 1 complication, and presence of 3 or more complications (P<0.05). There were also significant differences between the patients in terms of the laboratory examination results including elevated urea nitrogen, creatinine, direct bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, total protein, albumin, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, procalcitonin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cells, C-reactive protein, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, D-dimer, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, interleukin 10, interleukin 2 receptor, tumor necrosis factor-α, troponin I, phosphokinase isoenzyme-MB, and B-type natriuretic peptide; and decreased platelets, lymphocyte absolute value, and eosinophil absolute value (<0.05). There were 45 patients who died in ICU and 57 improved and discharged patients. There were significant differences between the two groups in the number of patients that had 1 complication and 3 or more complications (P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the laboratory examination results between the patients including elevated urea nitrogen, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, procalcitonin, white blood cells, interleukin 8, interleukin 10, phosphokinase isoenzyme-MB, and B-type natriuretic peptide; and decreased platelets and eosinophil absolute value (P<0.05).. Our findings highlight that the identified determinants may help to improve treatment of COVID-19 patients, to predict the risk of developing severe illness and to optimizing arrangement of health resources.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Bilirubin; Blood Cell Count; Blood Coagulation Tests; Blood Proteins; Blood Sedimentation; Blood Urea Nitrogen; COVID-19; Creatine Kinase; Creatinine; Cytokines; Female; Fever; Hospitalization; Humans; Intensive Care Units; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Procalcitonin; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult

A new virus broke out in Wuhan, Hubei, China, that was later named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The clinical characteristics of severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 are still not clear.. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of severe pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China.. The study included patients hospitalized at the Central Hospital of Wuhan who were diagnosed with COVID-19. Clinical features, chronic comorbidities, demographic data, laboratory examinations, and chest computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed through electronic medical records. SPSS was used for data analysis to explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2.. A total of 110 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in the study, including 38 with severe pneumonia and 72 with nonsevere pneumonia. Statistical analysis showed that advanced age, increased D-Dimer, and decreased lymphocytes were characteristics of the patients with severe pneumonia. Moreover, in the early stage of the disease, chest CT scans of patients with severe pneumonia showed that the illness can progress rapidly.. Advanced age, decreased lymphocytes, and D-Dimer elevation are important characteristics of patients with severe COVID-19. Clinicians should focus on these characteristics to identify high-risk patients at an early stage.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; APACHE; Betacoronavirus; C-Reactive Protein; China; Comorbidity; Coronavirus Infections; Cough; COVID-19; Disease Progression; Dyspnea; Fatigue; Female; Fever; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Humans; Hypertension; Lung; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Organ Dysfunction Scores; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Procalcitonin; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Risk Assessment; SARS-CoV-2; Serum Albumin; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This case aims to remind all providers to scrutinise for atypical presentations of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) which may mimic a more routine diagnosis. In the absence of mucocutaneous symptoms, the diagnosis of MIS-C can be missed. Given the potential for rapid deterioration of patients with MIS-C, early treatment and inpatient interventions are necessary.

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Adenosine Monophosphate; Alanine; C-Reactive Protein; Child; COVID-19; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; COVID-19 Serological Testing; Diagnosis, Differential; Fever; Humans; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; Intubation, Intratracheal; Male; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Myocarditis; Nasopharynx; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; SARS-CoV-2; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Tachycardia; Treatment Outcome

To examine clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease (KD) in infants younger than 3 months of age and to develop a method for detecting KD in febrile infants.. In a case-control study, we retrospectively collected clinical and laboratory data from 24 KD infants younger than 3 months of age out of 410 KD patients. We then compared younger infants with both older patients and febrile infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and urinary tract infections (UTI).. The frequency of incomplete KD was higher in the younger group than in the control group (79% vs. 36%, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, before treatment, the incidence of coronary artery lesions (CAL) was significantly higher in the younger group (29% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.0001), resulting in a higher incidence of coronary artery sequelae (21% vs. 3.4%, P = 0.0023). Our results revealed that the serum N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level of KD patients was higher than that of RSV and UTI patients (3110 ± 2076 vs. 698 ± 436, P = 0.0001; and 971 ± 589 pg/mL, P = 0.0002, respectively). Thus, NT-proBNP might be suitable as a diagnostic marker of KD in young infants (P = 0.0005, criterion values: 1555 pg/mL [sensitivity: 80%, specificity: 85%]).. Kawasaki disease infants younger than 3 months of age appear to be at higher risk for incomplete KD and early-onset CAL prior to the appearance of coronary artery sequelae. We suggest performing an echocardiogram and evaluating NT-proBNP in young infants with fever that has lasted longer than 2 days, regardless of the presence or absence of manifestations associated with KD.

Topics: Age Factors; Biomarkers; Coronary Artery Disease; Echocardiography; Fever; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Japan; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Up-Regulation

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level could be a useful marker for Kawasaki disease in the pediatric emergency department (PED) and in the presence of fever duration of 4 days or less (hyper-acute phase of Kawasaki disease). Medical records of patients who were 1 month to 15 years old of age and presented at the PED with suspected Kawasaki disease from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014, were collected retrospectively. Two hundred thirty-nine patients with a history of fever for 4 days or less were diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, as well as 111 patients with other febrile diseases, and were enrolled. The NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in patients with Kawasaki disease (Kawasaki disease vs. other febrile disease group, 444.8 (189.7-951.5) vs. 153.4 (68.9-287.6) pg/mL; p < 0.001), and a cutoff value of 244.7 pg/mL yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 68.6 and 70.3 %, respectively. The area under the curve of the NT-proBNP for predicting Kawasaki disease was 0.763 (95 % CI 0.712-0.814).. NT-proBNP might be an adjunctive laboratory marker for hyper-acute phase of Kawasaki disease in the PED. What is Known: • N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level has been reported as a useful marker for diagnosis in patients with the acute phase of Kawasaki disease. • But, in the cases of less than 5 days of fever, the appropriate level of NT-proBNP for differentiating Kawasaki disease in PED has not been yet evaluated. What is New: • NT-proBNP might be an adjunctive laboratory marker for hyper-acute phase of Kawasaki disease.

Topics: Acute Disease; Biomarkers; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fever; Humans; Infant; Male; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Retrospective Studies; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity

Mycoplasma pneumonia is responsible for multisystemic infection. Pulmonary symptoms are most common in children. We describe herein two unusual severe forms of M. pneumoniae infection without initial pulmonary symptoms. The first case is an 8-month-old boy who was hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit with severe sepsis. There were no initial pulmonary symptoms, nor obvious clinical infection. Initial blood tests and x-ray did not aid the diagnosis. The blood tests came back positive for M. pneumonia. Pulmonary symptoms eventually appeared 24h later, and there was a pneumonia outbreak on the chest radiograph. The boy was given josamycin and improved quickly. The second case concerns an 8-year-old child who was hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit with toxic shock. No clinical infectious origin was found. A broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was started with ceftriaxone and josamycin. The M. pneumoniae blood test came back positive, which confirmed the diagnosis of septic shock in M. pneumoniae, requiring adjustment of the antibiotic therapy. Current guidelines for the choice of probabilistic antibiotic therapy in case of severe sepsis do not include the case of M. pneumoniae. The early initiation of antibiotic therapy plays a major role in the prognosis of these patients. It seems useful to search for M. pneumoniae in cases of severe atypical infections, particularly in the absence of pulmonary symptoms.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ceftriaxone; Erythema; Female; Fever; Humans; Infant; Josamycin; Male; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma; Sepsis; Severity of Illness Index; Tachycardia

The aim of this study was to investigate direct effects of heat exposure on the heart molecular-biologically and pathohistologically, using rats exposed to high temperatures. The mRNA expression of natriuretic peptide type A (Nppa), natriuretic peptide type B (Nppb), actin alpha 1 skeletal muscle (Acta1), myosin heavy polypeptide 6 cardiac muscle alpha (Myh6) and myosin heavy polypeptide 7 cardiac muscle alpha (Myh7) was determined in the hearts of the rats. Whereas the expression of Nppa and Nppb rapidly increased immediately after the heat exposure, the expression of Acta1 was gradually reduced, which indicated cardiac overload. Moreover, the expression of Myh6 and Myh7 in the heart increased 4h after the heat exposure, which suggested the involvement of a compensatory mechanism. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-fibronectin antibody showed that positive cardiomyocytes could be detected sparsely 4h after the heat exposure, and they could be clearly observed 8h after the heat exposure. Our results showed that hyperthermia causes myocardial damage shortly after the exposure to heat and that the ventricle was more vulnerable to hyperthermia-induced damage than the atrium. Cardiac dysfunction may be induced not only by hypercytokinemia but also by the direct effect of heat exposure at the early period of heat stroke, which may be one of the mechanisms by which heat causes death. Elucidating the mechanism of death from heat stroke could lead to not only diagnostic improvement but also the prevention of death from heat stroke.

Topics: Animals; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; DNA, Complementary; Fever; Heart; Heart Atria; Heart Ventricles; Heat Stroke; Hot Temperature; Male; Molecular Biology; Myocardium; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger

Cardiac patients express elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide and the amino terminal segment of its prohormone (NT-proBNP). However, there are non-cardiac causes of NT-proBNP level elevation.. To determine the upper limit of NT-proBNP for pediatric patients with acute non-cardiac disease.. We compared NT-proBNP concentrations in children with acute non-cardiac, mostly febrile disease with concentrations in children with acute cardiac disease and in healthy children. We used the Student t-test and Mann-Whitney test for group comparisons, and Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients to test relationships between variables.. In 138 patients with acute non-cardiac diseases (mean age 3.7 years, 53% male), median NT-proBNP concentration was 162 pg/ml, upper limit (95% percentile) 1049 pg/ml. The level did not vary significantly by disease category; was negatively correlated with weight, weight percentile, age and hemoglobin level; and positively correlated with creatinine level. Multivariant analysis showed weight to be the only factor influencing NT-proBNP level. Levels were higher in children with acute non-cardiac diseases versus healthy children (median 88 pg/ml, P < 0.001, n = 59), and lower than levels in patients with acute cardiac disease (median 29,986 pg/ml, P < 0.001, n=30). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed good NT-proBNP performance for differentiation between children with acute cardiac versus non-cardiac disease (area under the curve 0.958), at a cutoff of 415 pg/ml.. NT-proBNP levels are higher in children with acute non-cardiac diseases than in healthy children, but lower than in children with acute cardiac disease. NT-proBNP negatively correlated with weight and weight percentile.

Topics: Acute Disease; Biomarkers; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fever; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Diseases; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Protein Precursors; Severity of Illness Index

Serum amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is considered as a prognostic marker in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, but no data are available on NT-proBNP kinetics in hematological patients with neutropenic fever. Altogether 70 hematological patients with neutropenic fever were included in this prospective study. NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined at the beginning of the neutropenic fever (d0) and then daily up to 3-4 days. The median NT-proBNP (interquartile range) increased from 127 (57-393) ng/L on d0 to 542 (194-1385) ng/L on d4. The increment of CRP was from 35 (17-61) mg/L on d0 to 109 (56-109) mg/L on d2. Neither serial NT-proBNP nor CRP predicted development of severe sepsis, but NT-proBNP was significantly higher in patients with previous cardiovascular disease than in those without. NT-proBNP seemed to reflect cardiac distress, but it did not help to predict the development of severe sepsis in this patient group.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Fever; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Kinetics; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Neutropenia; Peptide Fragments; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Sepsis; Young Adult

Hypotonic fluids are commonly used for treating hospitalized children. However, an excess of arginine vasopressin (AVP) with impaired free water excretion is thought to contribute to the development of hyponatremia in febrile children. The aim of this two-part study was to define the clinical relationship between hyponatremia and excess AVP. In a retrospective study carried out between 2001 and 2005, we found that approximately 17% of the hospitalized patients had hyponatremia [serum sodium (Na) < 135 mEq/l] upon admission and that the ratio of patients with hyponatremia was significantly higher among febrile patients than among afebrile patients. In a subsequent prospective study, we examined 73 hospitalized patients who presented with acute febrile diseases accompanied by hyponatremia (serum Na <134 mEq/l). Almost all of these patients demonstrated excess AVP, defined as high plasma AVP levels (>1 pg/ml). There were no significant relationships between the levels of AVP and other laboratory variables, including serum sodium, serum osmolality, atrial natriuretic peptide, and brain natriuretic peptide. About 30% (22/73) of the patients fulfilled the criteria of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. These findings suggest that fever and other nonosmotic stimuli lead directly to excess AVP and hyponatremia. We therefore recommend that isotonic fluids should be used for patients with prolonged fever and hyponatremia.

Topics: Adolescent; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Arginine Vasopressin; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fever; Humans; Hyponatremia; Infant; Male; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies

The effects of an endogenous indole, isatin (indole-2, 3-dione), on the hyperthermia induced by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP-28), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-32), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP-22) were investigated in rats. Intracerebroventricular administration of each peptide in a dose of 1 microg caused elevations in colon temperature 30 and 60 min after injection. An intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of isatin (50 mg/kg) abolished the natriuretic peptide-induced hyperthermia. These data reinforce the possible involvement of natriuretic peptides in thermoregulatory processes in the central nervous system, and suggest that isatin might counteract their hyperthermic effect in vivo.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Body Temperature; Cerebral Ventricles; Fever; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Intraventricular; Isatin; Male; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Rats; Rats, Wistar

The effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP-28), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-32) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP-22) on body temperature were investigated in rats. Intracerebroventricular administration of each peptide in doses of 400 or 1000 ng caused a dose-related elevation in colon temperature 30 and 60 min after injection. A 40 ng dose of ANP-28 was also hyperthermic at 60 min. An intramuscular (i.m.) injection of noraminophenazone (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) abolished the natriuretic peptide-induced hyperthermia. The results show that natriuretic peptides may participate in thermoregulatory processes in the central nervous system, and that their hyperthermic effect may be mediated via a cyclooxygenase-involved pathway.

Topics: Animals; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Body Temperature; Colon; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dipyrone; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fever; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Pyrazolones; Rats; Rats, Wistar