Effect of ramipril on plasma brain natriuretic peptide in patients with congestive heart failure

Objective To investigate the effect of ramipril on plasma brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) in patients with congestive heart failure(CHF).Methods The contents of plasma BNP were detected before and after 4-week treatment(2.5 mg/d for a week,then 5-10 mg/d for 3 weeks) in 89 patients with CHF(treatment group).30 healthy subjects were enrolled as control group.Results The contents of plaslma BNP(492±316) pg/ml in treatment group were significantly higher than those(25±8)pg/ml in control group(P0.01).The increase of BNP levels in treatment group was correlated positively with the degree of CHF(r=0.753,P0.01).The levels of BNP were significantly decreased after treatment,compared with those before treatment(P0.01).There was a significant difference in patients with different degree of cardiac function in the levels of BNP with the sequence being ⅣⅢⅡ(P0.01).Conclusion The plasma BNP levels increase obviously in patients with CHF,and ramipril has a beneficial effect in improving cardiac function.