ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the curative effects between recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) and sodium nitroprusside in treatment of the acute attack of elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and probe the impacts of rhBNP on the heart function,serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), norepinephrine (NE), endothelin 1 (ET-1) and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels. Methods The 89 patients aged 65-85 years at acute attack stage of CHF were randomized into two therapy groups: rhBNP group (n= 47) and sodium nitroprusside group (n=42). The clinical effects, heart function, serum BNP, NE, ET-1 and ADH changes were observed before and after the treatment. Results After 24 hours of treatment, the efficacy rate and total effective rate were higher in rhBNP group than in sodium nitroprusside group (51.1% vs. 26.2 %,95.7% vs. 66. 7%, respectively, P＜0. 05 and P＜0. 01), and non-efficacy rate in rhBNP group was lower (4.3% vs. 33. 3%, P＜0. 01). There was one death case in rhBNP group and three in sodium nitroprusside group. In rhBNP group, left ventricular ejection fraction values increased after 2 weeks of treatment [(46.2± 9.5)% vs. (38.1 ±6.0)%], P＜0.05. Serum BNP level significantly decreased in rhlBNP group than in sodium nitroprusside group after 2 weeks of treatment (P＜0.05).In rhBNP group, serum BNP and NE levels decreased 24 hours and 2 weeks after treatment (P＜0. 01) and the levels furtherly reduced after 2 weeks (P＜0.01). Serum ET-1 level decreased in rhBNP group than in sodium nitroprusside group 2 weeks after treatment (P＜0.05). In rhBNP group, there was no significant difference in serum ET-1 level between baseline and 24 hours after treatment (P＞ 0. 05), but the ET-1 level decreased 2 weeks after treatment as compared with 24 hours after treatment (P＜0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups before and after treatment (P＞0.05). Incidences of headache and hypotension were lower in rhBNP group than in sodium nitroprusside group (4.3% vs. 19.0%, 14.9% vs. 23.8%, both P＜0.05),Conclusions RhBNP can be safely and effectively used for acute attack of CHF.