Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide ameliorates venous return function in congestive heart failure

Aims Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rh-BNP) is commonly used as a decongestive therapy. This study aimed to investigate the instant effects of rh-BNP on cardiac output and venous return function in post-cardiotomy patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods and results Twenty-four post-cardiotomy heart failure patients were enrolled and received a standard loading dose of rh-BNP. Haemodynamic monitoring was performed via a pulmonary artery catheter before and after the administration of rh-BNP. The cardiac output and venous return functions were estimated by depicting Frank-Starling and Guyton curves. After rh-BNP infusion, variables reflecting cardiac congestion and venous return function, such as pulmonary artery wedge pressure, mean systemic filling pressure (Pmsf) and venous return resistance index (VRRI), reduced from 15 +/- 3 to 13 +/- 3 mmHg, from 32 +/- 7 to 28 +/- 7 mmHg and from 6.7 +/- 2.6 to 5.7 +/- 1.8 mmHg min m(2)/L, respectively. Meanwhile, cardiac index, stroke volume index, and the cardiac output function curve remained unchanged per se. The decline in Pmsf [-13% (-22% to -8%)] and VRRI [-12% (-25% to -5%)] was much greater than that in the systemic vascular resistance index [-7% (-14% to 0%)]. In the subgroup analysis of reduced ejection fraction (<40%) patients, the aforementioned changes were more significant. Conclusions rh-BNP might ameliorate venous return rather than cardiac output function in post-cardiotomy CHF patients.