Reduced atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations in premenstrual syndrome

Article Abstract:

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a group of physical and psychological symptoms that occur prior to menstruation. The condition was first described 50 years ago, but no specific biochemical or physical markers have been identified. It is suspected that the body's response to hormones produced during the menstrual cycle causes symptoms of PMS. When the cycle is suppressed, the symptoms disappear. Conversely, when the hormones are given to menopausal women, PMS symptoms reappear. Although premenstrual fluid retention is often implicated in PMS, there is no conclusive evidence for this. The human atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a chemical that is released to help regulate the volume of fluid in the body. To see if ANP concentrations are altered during PMS, 11 women with PMS and 12 women without PMS were compared. The ANP was measured in the blood throughout the menstrual cycle. The women with PMS reported water retention prior to menstruation during the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. Similar cyclic changes were not experienced by the women with PMS. There were no differences between the two groups in blood pressure and progesterone, a hormone produced during the menstrual cycle. However, the women with PMS had a decrease in the concentration ANP before the mid-luteal phase (after ovulation) of the menstrual cycle. Similar cyclic changes were not seen in the women without PMS. The ANP concentrations were lower in the PMS group than in the group without PMS throughout the menstrual cycle. If water retention is responsible for PMS symptoms, then ANP concentrations should have been higher in the women experiencing PMS. Therefore, it is theorized that the low ANP in the women with PMS may be influenced by a decreased blood volume, or a decrease in sodium content, or both. The altered fluid volume may be influenced by the balance of aldosterone, the hormone that controls sodium in the blood, and by progesterone. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Development and progression, Premenstrual syndrome

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Artrial natriuretic peptide in fetal disease

Article Abstract:

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a substance released by specialized heart muscle cells (atrial myocytes) that helps to regulate body fluids. ANP can alter fluid volumes by adjusting salt, increasing water excretion, opening blood vessels or inhibiting the hormone aldosterone, involved in regulating urine. The role of ANP in pregnancies complicated by fetal hydrops (abnormal swelling of the fetus), decreased amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) and blockage of the urinary structures of the fetus is not known. ANP was measured in blood obtained from the umbilical cords of normal fetuses and fetuses from pregnancies complicated by a fluid volume imbalance. The ANP was highest among the fetuses with hydrops, although this statistic was largely the result of two of the fetuses with a particularly high ANP. The fetuses with abnormal kidneys had ANP levels similar to those in the comparison group, verifying the normal fluid regulation in these fetuses. In the nonhydrops fetuses undergoing blood transfusion, the ANP increased while six of the hydrops fetuses had a decrease in ANP following transfusion. The mechanism involved in decreasing the ANP in the hydrops fetuses having transfusions is not clear. ANP plays an active role in regulating fluids during fetal life. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological regulation, Hydrops fetalis, Body fluids

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Patient-recorded domiciliary fetal monitoring

Article Abstract:

Cardiotocography is a method of monitoring the fetal heart rate and labor contractions during pregnancy. To accurately assess fetal well-being during a high risk pregnancy, frequent monitoring requiring many visits to the hospital is needed. A method of transmitting fetal heart tracings via the telephone has been developed using new microprocessor technology. The patients were monitored at home using a PC-type microprocessor and a remote unit. Information can be stored and transmitted on a daily basis. The home monitoring system was used by 134 women who were at moderate risk for a complication of pregnancy. The mother would locate the fetal heart and record it for 30 minutes. The fetal monitoring at home indicated fetal heart rate abnormalities requiring induction of labor in seven patients. There were no fetal deaths. The monitoring system reduced the need for constant hospital attendance and was less demanding of midwives. The tracings were of high quality in comparison with conventional hospital monitoring. The use of domiciliary fetal monitoring will be an integral part of the obstetrical high risk management in the near future. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Management, Usage, Computers, Digital computers, Fetal heart rate monitoring, Electronic fetal monitoring, Digital communications, Pregnancy, Complications of, Pregnancy complications, Cardiography

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