[Changes in plasma levels of adrenomedullin and cyclic adenosine monophosphate and their interrelation in patients with chronic heart failure].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes in plasma levels of adrenomedullin (ADM) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in an attempt to understand the role of ADM in the occurrence and development of CHF.

METHODS

The plasma levels of cAMP and ADM were measured by radioimmunoassay in 45 patients with CHF (including 10 of NYHA classII, 15 of class III, and 20 of class IV) and 20 healthy controls respectively.

RESULTS

Plasma ADM and cAMP levels significantly increased in patients of NYHA class II, III, and IV as compared with the healthy controls (P<0.05), with those of class III patients being the highest. Positive correlation between ADM and cAMP was noted in CHF patients(r=0.735, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Plasma levels of ADM and cAMP were in close correlation with the degree of heart failure, varying dynamically with the development of heart failure. There was mutual accommodation between ADM and cAMP, and increased cAMP level partly results from elevated ADM level in CHF patients.