Editorial
What does the future hold for BNP in cardiology?
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
The identification of natriuretic peptides as key regulators of natriuresis and vasodilatation, and the appreciation that their secretion is under the control of cardiac haemodynamic and neurohumoral factors, have boosted a wide interest among scientists and cardiologists in the last 10 years. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP, 32 amino acids) is secreted into the circulation mainly by left ventricular (and atrial) myocytes in conditions of overload or wall stress (dilatation and/or abnormal filling pressure). Through its binding to specific membrane receptors (NPR-A), the hormone generates the second messenger cGMP and stimulates the nitric oxide system. BNP may be envisioned as a "good" hormone that counteracts the effects of the sympathetic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems by favouring peripheral vasodilatation, renal excretion of water and sodium, and by inhibiting abnormal vascular cell growth.
The authors of this commentary share most of the views expressed in two
recent editorials.1 2 Plasma BNP concentration rises with
the severity of
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Hardman, S M C
(2002). Heart failure: across the interface and beyond. Heart
88: ii28-32
[Full Text]
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
- Citation Map
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
