Effects of thoracic epidural analgesia on plasma cAMP and cGMP levels in patients with heart failure

摘要

Background and aim The progression of heart failure is affected by several factors, including chronic stimulation of the β-adrenoceptor. This clinical study was designed to measure the effects of thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) on the plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE), cAMP, and cGMP in patients with heart failure and assess the clinical implication of TEA. Methods Forty patients with heart failure were randomly assigned to TEA (TEA plus standard care) and control groups (standard care). The plasma concentrations of cAMP, cGMP, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and NE were measured using ELISA before treatment, the second and fourth weeks of treatment. Results The plasma concentrations of cAMP, cGMP, BNP, and NE in the TEA group were significantly reduced by the fourth week compared to their initial concentrations (P?