In this pilot study, the investigators will determine the response of the natriuretic peptide
(NP) hormone system after a dose of intravenous dexamethasone (a steroid medication). The
goal of the proposed project is to generate preliminary data that will be used to develop
power calculations, inform cutoff ranges, and inform the timing of the NP response for larger
subsequent studies.
Aim: To determine the range of distribution and time course of natriuretic peptide (NP)
responses to a single dose of dexamethasone IV 4 mg in healthy lean individuals.
Hypothesis: Determination of the NP responses (the range and time course of changes in NP
levels) to dexamethasone in 10 healthy individuals will inform the time course and frequency
of blood sampling in a definitive prospective study, as well as enable investigators to
perform a sample size calculation for a definitive prospective study.