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Aldosterone and alterations of hypertension-related vascular function in African Americans

Theodore A Kotchen1, Jane M Kotchen, Clarence E Grim

  • 1Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. tkotchen@mcw.edu

American Journal of Hypertension
|January 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

In African Americans, higher aldosterone levels are linked to hypertension and impaired vascular function. This suggests aldosterone may play a role in the high prevalence of hypertension and related vascular issues in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • African Americans exhibit a high prevalence of hypertension and associated vascular diseases.
  • Previous research indicated relatively high plasma aldosterone concentrations in hypertensive African Americans.
  • This study investigated the association between aldosterone and hypertension, including its effects on peripheral and renal vascular function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the hypothesis that aldosterone is associated with hypertension in African Americans.
  • To determine if aldosterone correlates with alterations in peripheral and renal vascular function in hypertensive individuals.
  • To explore the role of aldosterone in hypertension-related vascular changes.

Main Methods:

  • Measured 24-hour blood pressure, cardiac output, renal blood flow (RBF), plasma renin activity (PRA), and plasma aldosterone in hypertensive and normotensive African Americans.
  • Repeated hemodynamic measurements during graded norepinephrine (NE) infusions.
  • Analyzed correlations between blood pressure, vascular function parameters, and aldosterone levels.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive African Americans had higher blood pressure, lower cardiac index, higher peripheral vascular resistance, lower arterial compliance, lower RBF, and higher renal vascular resistance (RVR) compared to normotensives.
  • Blood pressure was positively correlated with peripheral vascular resistance and inversely with vascular compliance.
  • Higher plasma aldosterone and lower PRA were observed in hypertensives, with aldosterone correlating with blood pressure, vascular compliance, and RVR.

Conclusions:

  • Aldosterone may contribute to the development of hypertension in African Americans.
  • Aldosterone is associated with hypertension-related alterations in peripheral and renal vascular function.
  • These findings suggest aldosterone as a potential therapeutic target for hypertension in African Americans.
Abstract

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