Bradycardia and B-type natriuretic peptide

Bradycardia and loss of atrioventricular synchrony can result inincreased natriuretic peptide secretion due to increased cardiac wall tension. Antihypertensive beta-blocker therapy has been shown to cause elevated natriuretic peptide levels, as well as to increase the frequency of atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients. The measurement of natriuretic peptides might help solve the clinical challenge of predicting the patients with high risk for beta-blocker induced atrial fibrillation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.