Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in fetuses with cardiac disease.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in fetuses with cardiac defects and to evaluate the relationships between plasma ANP levels and the presence of polyhydramnios. METHODS: Plasma ANP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 27 fetuses with cardiac abnormalities and in 14 normal healthy fetuses. RESULTS: Fetal plasma ANP levels were similar in the two studied groups (p = 0.18) but they were significantly higher in a subset of cases with cardiac disease and polyhydramnios (n = 7) than in those with cardiac disease and normal amniotic fluid (n = 20; p = 0.036) and controls (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Polyhydramnios in fetuses with heart conditions might be explained by increased fetal diuresis secondary to increased ANP production.