Cardiac natriuretic peptides.

Over the last four decades, cardiac natriuretic peptides have changed our understanding of patients with chronic heart failure. From the discovery of the heart as an endocrine organ with its own hormones and receptors, the biochemistry and physiology of the system have been translated into useful biomarkers and drug targets in cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this review is to provide medical researchers not working in the field with a simple introduction to the system and its molecular components, its quantitative methods, and its physiology and pathophysiology. The hope is that this overview may help to broaden the knowledge of the endocrine heart with the intent that researchers in other areas of medical research will be inspired to seek new facets of the system, both in translational science and in clinical practice.