Role of the molar ratio of kaliuretic peptide/atrial natriuretic peptide in elderly essential hypertension

AIM: To investigate the role of the molar ratio of kaliuretic peptide/atrial natriuretic peptide in elderly essential hypertension(EH). METHODS: The levels of plasma kaliuretic peptide (KP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in 46 elderly patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 11 spontaneuos hypertension rats (SHR) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Meanwhile, the concentation of KP and ANP in myocardium of rats were observed as well. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the plasma levels of KP and ANP in EH group were no significantly different, but the molar ratio of KP/ANP were lowered significantly (P＜0.05). The levels of plasma KP and ANP in SHR were significantly higher than those in Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY)(P＜0.01 and P＜0.05 respectively). However, the molar ratio of KP/ANP were markedly lower(P＜0.01). The concentration of KP in atrium was significantly higher than that in ventricle in SHR(P＜0.01). Moreover, there are no significantly different between SHR and SKY in atrium concentration of KP. CONCLUSION: KP and the molar ratio of KP/ANP maybe play an important role in pathogenesis of elderly essential hypertension.