Cardiovascular and hormonal effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide in congestive heart failure

Abstract

The effects of infusing human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide were studied in eight patients with congestive heart failure, five normal rabbits and five rabbits with adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy. In patients with heart failure, calcitonin gene-related peptide caused a dose-dependent increase in cardiac output and decrease in pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary artery pressure. The systemic blood pressure and right atrial and pulmonary wedge pressures decreased only at the highest infusion rate (16 ng/kg per min). Heart rate remained unchanged. Plasma epinephrine increased (p < 0.05), whereas aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide and prolactin concentrations decreased (p < 0.05). Plasma norepinephrine, renin activity, cortisol and growth hormone concentrations remained unchanged.