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Relationship between plasma aldosterone and left ventricular structure and function in patients with essential

I Lazurova1, G Valocik, B Zabranska

  • 12nd Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Safarikiensis University, Kosice, Slovakia. lazurova@central.medic.upjs.sk

Bratislavske Lekarske Listy
|November 5, 2003
PubMed

Insights

High aldosterone levels in essential hypertension correlate with left ventricular changes. This study found a significant link between plasma aldosterone and cardiac structure/function in hypertensive patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Elevated plasma aldosterone is linked to myocardial fibrosis.
  • Essential hypertension can lead to cardiac structural and functional alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between circulating aldosterone and cardiac changes in essential hypertension.
  • To compare plasma aldosterone and renin activity levels in hypertensive patients versus normotensive controls.

Main Methods:

  • Echocardiography (M-mode and 2D) was used to assess cardiac structure and function.
  • Plasma aldosterone (PA) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured at baseline and after postural stimulation.
  • Statistical analysis (Tukey Kramer) was employed to determine correlations.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in PRA levels was observed between hypertensive and normotensive groups.
  • Hypertensive patients showed mildly elevated, though not statistically significant, PA levels compared to controls.
  • Significant positive correlations were found between PA levels (both baseline and stimulated) and left ventricular parameters (IVSd, PWd, LVIDd, E/A) in hypertensive subjects.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma aldosterone levels are significantly associated with left ventricular structure and function in patients with essential hypertension.
  • Unlike aldosterone, PRA did not show a correlation with cardiac parameters in this hypertensive cohort.
  • These findings highlight the role of aldosterone in hypertensive heart disease.

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