Atrial natriuretic factor in idiopathic minimal-lesion nephrotic syndrome.

The plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) were measured both during relapse and remission in 8 patients with idiopathic, minimal-lesion nephrotic syndrome. The plasma levels of ANF were significantly higher in the patients during relapse (53.3 +/- 21.2 pg/ml, mean +/- SEM) as compared to the values observed in the same patients during remission (19.4 +/- 4.1 pg/ml; p less than 0.05). This moderate increase in ANF is not likely to be explained by hypervolemia and is associated with sodium and water retention rather than natriuresis and diuresis.