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Hisaomi Kawai, MD; Katsuhito Adachi, MD; Chiyomi Kimura, MD; Takeshi Nishiuchi, MD; Yasuhiro Yamasaki, MD; Yoshihiko Tsutsui, MD; Shiro Saito, MD

Arch Neurol. 1990;47(8):900-904.

Abstract
• The plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide was measured in patients with muscular dystrophies to study its relationship with congestive heart failure. In patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration was 35.5 ± 3.3 pg/mL (mean ± SE), which was higher than that in age-matched normal subjects (9.8 ± 0.6 pg/mL). It increased with progression of disability and showed significant correlations with the cardiothoracic ratio and the ratio of the preejection period to the left ventricular ejection time. In patients with other types of muscular dystrophy, the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration showed no significant change. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated many atrial natriuretic peptide-positive cells in atrial muscle of an autopsied patient, indicating preservation of the peptide until the end stage. These findings suggest that measurement of the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration is useful for evaluating heart failure in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Author Affiliations
From the First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima (Japan) (Drs Kawai, Nishiuchi, Yamasaki, Tsutsui, and Saito), and the Department of Internal Medicine, Tokushima Hospital of National Sanatorium (Drs Adachi and Kimura).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication November 3, 1989.

Reprint requests to First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Kuramoto-3, Tokushima 770, Japan (Dr Kawai).

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