NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES – A VALUABLE TARGET IN THE TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE
NICOLAE PĂUN 1,2, CAMELIA NICOLAE 1,2*, MIHAI GRIGORE 1,2, ADRIANA MIHAELA ILIESIU 1,2, VIOREL JINGA 1,2, IOAN TIBERIU NANEA 1,2, DUMITRU LUPULIASA 1, ANDREEA MADALINA MUNTEANU 1,2, GABRIELA USCOIU 1,2, MIRUNA MARIA APETROAEI 1
1“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
2“Prof. Dr. Th. Burghele“ Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
Download Full Article PDF
Heart failure (HF) continues to pose a significant worldwide health concern, marked by elevated morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. The natriuretic peptide (NP) system is particularly important in mitigating maladaptive neurohormonal activation, such as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). NPs demonstrate a variety of beneficial effects, including diuresis, natriuresis, vasodilation, and the suppression of heart hypertrophy and fibrosis. Although the NP system deteriorates in late HF, treatment approaches aimed at NPs have shown encouraging outcomes in re-establishing cardiovascular and renal homeostasis. This article examines the pathophysiological functions of NPs, the relevant signalling mechanisms, and therapeutic potential. Novel pharmacological drugs and gene therapy techniques are also discussed. Despite ongoing problems such as enzymatic degradation, reduced bioavailability and adverse reactions of new molecules, the NP system constitutes an invaluable therapeutic target. Future improvements in this field promise to enhance outcomes in HF management.
