European Heart Journal (1996) 17, 1694-1702

Diastolic dysfunction and natriuretic peptides in systolic heart failure Higher ANP and BNP levels are associated with the restrictive filling pattern C. M. Yu, J. E. Sanderson, I. O. L. Shum, S. Chan, L. Y. C. Yeung, Y. T. Hung, C. S. Cockram and K. S. Woo Department of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong

Methods Sixty-eight consecutive patients with symptomatic systolic heart failure (ejection fraction =0-012; BNP: 277-8 ±27-7 vs 162-4 ± 21-9 pg . m l " ' , f=0-002) (Table 1 and Fig. 1). In addition, the restrictive filling pattern group had a significantly lower ejection fraction (32-8 ± 1-4 vs 37-7 ± 1-3%, />=0-026), higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure (39-2 ± 2-7 vs 23-2 ± 21 mmHg, />=0-015; fractional shortening= 15-9 ±0-9 vs 18-3 ±0-6%, />=0-030). NYHA class also correlated with both ANP and BNP levels (ANP: r=0-321, />=0013; BNP: r=O-523, P