[The detection and significance of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in advanced schistosomiasis patients].

The plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were determined with radioimmunoassay in 23 cases of advanced schistosomiasis, 16 cases of chronic schistosomiasis and 16 normal subjects. The results were: the plasma ANP level in advanced schistosomiasis (286.6 +/- 13.0 ng/L) was significantly higher than that in of chronic schistosomiasis (196.7 +/- 17.3 ng/L) and normal controls (157.2 +/- 16.0 ng/L) (P < 0.01 respectively). Among advanced schistosomiasis, the plasma ANP level in 12 cases with ascites (256.5 +/- 16.8 ng/L) was significantly lower than that in 11 cases with splenomegaly but without ascites (320.5 +/- 20.0 ng/L) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the levels in chronic schistosomiasis and normal control (P > 0.05), the results suggested that ANP played a role in maintaining homeostasis of sodium and fluid in advanced schistosomiasis.