Atrial natriuretic factor in bilharzial hepatic fibrosis and posthepatitic cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

Elevated levels of plasma atrial natriuretic factor [ANF] were found in cirrhotic patients. Some investigators reported basal levels, while other reported low levels of ANF. This lead us to investigate the effect of bilaharzial periportal fibrosis [BPD] and bilharzial liver cirrhosis and posthepatic cirrhosis on plasma ANF. 27 patients were selected and divided into three groups. The first group comprized nine patients of bilharzial periportal fibrosis. The second group comprized 9 patients of mixed ANF was measured by radioimmunoassay. Abdominal and cardiac ultrasonography was used for measurement of liver size and echogenicity together with diameter of portal vein, splenic view and cardiac chambers. The results showed that ANF was induced in all group of patient except those developing ascites, they showed levels slightly more than the control group