Plasma Concentration of Human Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Patients on Hemodialysis

The plasma concentration of immunoreactive human brain natriuretic peptide (ir-BNP) was measured in 40 patients on hemodialysis (HD) and in 12 healthy subjects. Immunoreactive human atrial natriuretic peptide (ir-ANP) was also measured. The mean (+SE) plasma it-BNP concentration in the patients before HD (18.4 + 3.4 fmol/mL) was markedly higher than that in the control group (0.39 ± 0.08 fmol/mL). The plasma it-BNP level was significantly decreased by HD from 18.4 ± 3.4 fmol/mL to 10.5 ± 2.2 fmol/mL ( P P P r = 0.68, P r = 0.806, P