الفهرس 
ABBREVIATIONSOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
ANF is a physioloyical regulator of volume homeostasis in humans through its natriuretic , diuretic and vasorelaxant properties. Renal responsiveness to ANP is blunted in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. In preascitic both plasma levels and renal effectiveness of ANP are subject of cotroversy. The preascitic cirrhotic patients on normal sodium diet have steadily increased plasma ANP. The aim of this work was to assess the daily behavior of plasma ANP, study the relationship between plasma ANP and renal sodium handling in preascitic cirrhosis and looking for changes in blood volume along the day. The study was performed on 40 patients classified to 4 groups and 10 healthy subjects who served as a control group. All patients and control were subjected to full clinical examiation, laboratory investigations, abdominal ultrasonography and upper G.I.T. endoscopy. The ANF was estimated in the peripheral venous blood by radio immunoassay. This study showed the fOllowing 1- Plasma ANF was significantly higher than the control in patients (All groups, Hepatitis, Bilharzial, hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) at 7 am , 9 am and 6 pm . Plasma ANF was significantly higher in patients with hepatitis B at 7am, 9am and 6 pm.