Methods of Treatment of Heart Failure With Natriuretic Peptides

Abstract

Methods of treating heart failure, or decreasing blood pressure, comprising administering an NP at an appropriate does, or in an amount sufficient to provide particular concentrations of NP, are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a patient with heart failure comprising administering an NP to the patient in a dose range of about 1 ng/kg/min to about 20 ng/kg/min. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dose range is about 1 ng/kg/min to about 10 ng/kg/min. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dose range is about 1 ng/kg/min to about 7.5 ng/kg/min. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the dose range is about 1 ng/kg/min to about 5 ng/kg/min. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the dose range is about 1.25 ng/kg/min to about 3.75 ng/kg/min. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dose is about 1.25 ng/kg/min. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dose is about 2.5 ng/kg/min. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dose is about 3 ng/kg/min. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heart failure is selected from the group consisting of acute heart failure, decompensated heart failure, and chronic heart failure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of administering an additional vasoactive medication. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional vasoactive medication is selected from the group consisting of statins, beta-blockers, diuretics, alpha blockers, ACE inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, calcium channel blockers, furosemide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NP is selected from the group consisting of CD-NP, atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, C-type natriuretic peptide, urodilatin, BD-NP, CU-NP, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the NP is CD-NP. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating a patient with heart failure, the method comprising:
 determining the weight of the patient; and   administering an NP in a dose;   wherein, if the weight of the patient is more than 198 pounds, then the dose, K, in units of μg/hr, is determined by the following formula:
     K=O +( D×M ) 
   and wherein if the weight of the patient is less than 198 pounds, then the dose, K, in units of μg/hr, is determined by the following formula:
     K=O −( D×M )
 
   wherein O is an amount of NP, in μg/hr, sufficient to treat heart failure in a 198 pounds without causing hypotension, and   wherein D is the value of S20 rounded to the nearest whole number, and wherein S is the absolute value of (198-the patient's weight in pounds); and   wherein M is between 1 μg/hr and 20 μg/hr.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein O is about 5 μg/hr to about 50 μg/hr. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the NP is selected from the group consisting of CD-NP, atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, C-type natriuretic peptide, urodilatin, BD-NP, CU-NP, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the NP is CD-NP. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating a patient with heart failure, comprising administering an NP in an amount sufficient to achieve a concentration of NP of about 200 pg/mL to about 1,200 pg/mL in the serum or plasma. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the NP is CD-NP. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising administering an additional vasoactive medication.