Atrial natriuretic peptide, plasma renin activity, plasma volume, systemic vascular resistance and cardiac output in patients with cirrhosis.

The present study aimed to assess relationships between plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and plasma volume, systemic vascular resistances, cardiac output and plasma renin activity in patients with cirrhosis. Thirty patients were included: eight with no history of liver disease were used as controls; 22 patients had biopsy-proven alcoholic cirrhosis without ascites (n = 11) and with ascites (n = 11). Mean ANP plasma level was significantly higher in both groups of cirrhotic patients than in controls (P less than 0.