Presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "Plasma Concentrations of Immunoreactive Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Hospitalized Cirrhotic and Noncirrhotic Patients: Evidence for a Role of Deficient Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Pathogenesis of Cirrhotic Ascites," by H. . Bonkovsky, D. K. Hartle, B. G. Mellen, et al. in a 1988 issue of "American Journal of Gastroenterology."