Atrial natriuretic paptide in liver cirrhosis]

Atrial natriuretic paptide (ANP) a potent hormone with important role in sodium homeostasis has been widely investigated in experimental and clinical hepatology during last years. High serum levels are found in decompensated liver cirrhosis, condition characterised with extremely low sodium urinary excretion. This paradoxal finding is poorly understood until nowdays. High tone of sympathetic nerve activity independently increase hormone secretion in cirrhosis. Refractory ascites, rare and discouraging complication of advanced cirrhosis, can be succesfully treated, in carefully selected patients, with repeated intravenous bolus or continous infusions of ANR Serum concentrations of ANP may be used as noninvasive marker of disease activity in compensated and decompensated patients. High levels in still compensated patients predict ascites formation in soon course.