Epoprostenol Increases Plasma Level of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in humans

1. In a placebo-controlled, randomized dose—response study the effect of the prostaglandin analogue epoprostenol (Flolan^R) on the plasma level of atrial natriuretic peptide has been investigated in 14 healthy control subjects.

2. During epoprostenol infusion, atrial natriuretic peptide increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, while it remained unchanged during placebo infusion [2 ng min⁻¹ kg⁻¹: epoprostenol 13.2% versus placebo −2.9%; 4 ng min⁻¹ kg⁻¹: epoprostenol 13.4% versus placebo −6.1%; 8 ng min⁻¹ kg⁻¹: epoprostenol 40.7% versus placebo −7.8% (medians), P < 0.01 for all].

3. Mean blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly after epoprostenol, but were unchanged during placebo infusion [8 ng min⁻¹ kg⁻¹; mean blood pressure: epoprostenol −5.6% versus placebo 3.2%; heart rate: epoprostenol 32.7% versus placebo 3.1% (medians), P < 0.01].

4. It is concluded that epoprostenol given intravenously increases the plasma level of atrial natriuretic peptide. The results support the hypothesis of an interaction between the prostaglandin system and atrial natriuretic peptide.