Abstract 15217: Combination Phosphodiesterase V Inhibition and Low Dose B-type Natriuretic Peptide Did Not Enhance Renal Function in Acute Heart Failure

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Introduction: Cardiorenal dysfunction with impaired cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) response to volume load is a hallmark of heart failure. Phosphodiesterase V (PDEV) is known to be upregulated and may explain the dysfunction of renal response. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that PDEV inhibition in combination with low dose intravenous (IV) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) would improve renal function and potentiate urinary sodium and cGMP excretion in patients with acute heart failure. Methods: Randomized open label study in 67 patients admitted to the hospital with acute heart failure. These patients were randomized to standard care, low dose IV BNP (0.005μg/kg/min), or combination low dose BNP/PDEV inhibition with sildenafil (25 mg q12 hrs) for 48 hours. Plasma and urine studies were obtained at baseline, 24 hours, and 48 hours after study drug initiation to assess renal function. The primary endpoint was the percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) from baseline to 48 hours. Changes from baseline were summarized with median and quartiles and groups were compared using two-sample t-test. [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00972569] Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Median age was 78 years and median ejection fraction 39%. Treatment with BNP and BNP/PDEV inhibitor significantly increased plasma cGMP at 24 hr (% increase of 25.6 (8.9, 13.1) and 60.8 (32.3, 103.8) for BNP and BNP/PDEV vs % decrease of 13.5 (-29.1, 14.2) for placebo, p=0.001). BNP levels were significantly higher in both groups at 48 hr compared with placebo. However, there was no significant change in eGFR, BUN, or urinary sodium/cGMP excretion between groups. Hypotension was more common in the BNP/PDEV inhibitor group. Conclusions: Low dose IV BNP and combination BNP/PDEV inhibition increased plasma cGMP in patients with acute heart failure but did not improve renal function or urinary sodium/cGMP excretion. Our study does not support the use of low dose IV BNP with or without PDEV inhibition to enhance renal function in patients admitted with acute heart failure.