In 40 patients with chronic moderate to severe aortic regurgitation, brain natriuretic peptide, N-brain natriuretic peptide, and atrial natriuretic peptide were higher in symptomatic patients compared with asymptomatic patients after adjustment for age, gender, and ejection fraction, but each natriuretic: peptide correlated weakly with echocardiographic measures of left ventricular size and function. in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation, measurement of natriuretic peptide levels may provide information on left ventricular function in addition to echocardiography. (C)2003 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.