Influence of dopamine on atrial natriuretic peptide level in premature infants.

The role of dopamine (DA) in the activation and/or release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was investigated in 11 premature infants during the early postnatal period. Mean plasma concentration of ANP and free DA level before DA infusion was 252.6 +/- 210 fmol/ml, and 0.4 +/- 0.2 ng/ml, respectively. DA infusion in a dose of 2 micrograms/kg/min caused a rise in plasma free DA level to 59.7 +/- 21.5 ng/ml and a significant increase in GFR, diuresis, sodium excretion and fractional sodium excretion. The plasma concentration of ANP, however, remained unchanged (252.6 +/- 210.0 vs. 213 +/- 143.0 fmol/ml). Thus, our data failed to demonstrate a stimulatory effect of DA on ANP release in premature infants. The role of the high plasma concentration of ANP in preterm neonates immediately after birth has to be clarified.