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

Objective To investigate the effect of benazepril on plasma brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)in patients with congestive heart failure(CHF).MethodsThe contents of plasma BNP were detected before and after 4-week treatment(2.5 mg/d for a week,then 5～20 mg/d for 3 weeks)in 108 patients with CHF(treatment group).20 healthy subjects were enrolled as control group.ResultsThe contents of plasma BNP(462 pg/ml±318 pg/ml)in treatment group were significantly higher than those(22 pg/ml±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=0.762,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).However there was no significant difference in the levels of BNP among patients with CHF caused by different factors(P0.05).ConclusionThe plasma BNP levels increase obviously in patients with CHF,and benazepril has a beneficial effect in improving cardiac function.