Increased Plasma Levels of Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Abstract
Brain natriuretic peptide was originally isolated from the mammalian brain1,2 and acts as a cardiac hormone resembling atrial natriuretic peptide3,4. Brain natriuretic peptide is synthesized primarily by the ventricles, and its expression in the ventricles is induced in ventricular overload and hypertrophy5. These observations suggest the possible involvement of this peptide in the pathophysiology of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.