Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), aldosterone (PA), vasopressin (AVP), and the plasma renin activity (PRA) were examined in 15 vascularly decompensated patients suffering from liver cirrhosis, before and after administration of albumin and after a subsequent administration of furosemide. The initial ANP level was lower in 9 patients (group "A") and higher in 6 patients (group "B") than in healthy controls (Group "A": 19.5 +/- 3.0 fmol/ml; group "B": 36.7 +/- 3.9 fmol/ml; control: 25.8 +/- 2.4 fmol/ml). The initial PRA (4.4 +/- 1.0 ng AngI/ml/h) and AVP (8.5 +/- 1.5 pg/ml) activity in group "A" increased significantly compared to group "B" (PRA: 0.44 +/- 0.09; AVP: 4.1 +/- 0.5), indicating an intravascular volume depletion in group "A". Albumin infusion raised the urine and sodium excretion and the plasma concentration of ANP in group "A" but lowered in plasma levels of renin and vasopressin. The same parameters were not changed by albumin in group "B". Furosemide equally raised the urine flow rate and sodium excretion in both groups. Plasma ANP level depends on the intravascular volume, and the secondary change in its plasma concentration plays a considerable role in the retention of fluid and electrolytes in patients with cirrhosis. The increased intravascular volume in these patients depletes the fluid and electrolyte retention via the increase in ANP level.