Pharmacokinetics and effects of atrial natriuretic factor during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

The pharmacokinetics of a bolus dose of synthetic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) 50 micrograms and its effects on urine output, blood pressure and plasma renin activity have been studied in 5 patients undergoing hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery. The half-lives of the fast and slow components were 2.4 min and 14.2 min, respectively. The volume of the central compartment was 16.7 l and the volume of distribution at steady-state was 38.9 l. The total plasma clearance was 3.8 l.min-1. ANF significantly increased urine output and decreased blood pressure, but it did not affect plasma renin activity.