[The changes of plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptides in evaluation of treatment responses in chronic heart failure].

To evaluate the changes of plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptides in patient with chronic heart failure (CHF) and the effect of beta-blockers (BB) on CHF.We enrolled 33 patients with CHF, NYHAII-III, age 19 - 76 (57.5 +/- 15.8) years. Plasma levels of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP) were measured with radioimmunoassay and immunoradiometric assay in these patients. All the patients were assigned to 3 groups as follows: standard therapy group 12 cases (receiving ACEI + digoxin + diuretic), metoprolol treatment group 10 cases (receiving metoprolol in addition to the standard therapy), carvedilol treatment group 11 cases (receiving carvedilol in additional to the standard therapy). These patients were treated for three months, the therapeutic effects were assessed by change of plasma levels of ANP and BNP.Plasma levels of ANP and BNP were significantly elevated in CHF patients. After treatment, ANP and BNP plasma levels both decreased significantly. In patients receiving beta-blockers, BNP plasma levels decreased most significantly.BNP plasma level is a good marker to reflect left ventricular function. Measurement of BNP plasma level is useful to monitor the change of left ventricular function and to evaluate the effect of treatment with beta-blockers.