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Pathophysiological effects of aldosterone in cardiovascular tissues
1Pharmacia Corporation, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, 4901 Searle Parkway, Skokie, IL 60077, USA. ricardo.rocha@pharmacia.com
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|August 16, 2001
Summary
Excess aldosterone, a hormone, independently damages organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys, increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Aldosterone antagonism shows promise in reducing related morbidity and mortality.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Antihypertensive therapies have reduced cardiovascular disease, yet heart failure, stroke, and renal failure incidence persists.
- This suggests mechanisms beyond hypertension contribute to end-organ damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of aldosterone as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and end-organ damage.
- To evaluate the impact of aldosterone antagonism on cardiovascular and renal outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of genetic and experimental hypertension models.
- Analysis of clinical studies correlating plasma aldosterone levels with organ dysfunction.
- Examination of data on aldosterone antagonism in heart failure patients.
Main Results:
- Experimental models show excess aldosterone causes severe heart, brain, and kidney injury.
- Aldosterone antagonism or adrenalectomy significantly reduces myocardial injury, cerebral hemorrhage, and renal vascular disease.
- Clinical studies link higher plasma aldosterone to left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, and renal dysfunction.
- Aldosterone antagonism reduces morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients.
Conclusions:
- Aldosterone is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Targeting aldosterone may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing end-organ damage in hypertensive and heart failure patients.
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