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Reduced circulating apelin in essential hypertension and its association with cardiac dysfunction
Monika Przewlocka-Kosmala1, Tomasz Kotwica, Andrzej Mysiak
1Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
Journal of Hypertension
|February 25, 2011
Summary
Essential hypertension is linked to lower circulating apelin levels. Reduced apelin is independently associated with impaired left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in hypertensive patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Apelin, a peptide hormone, regulates cardiovascular functions including blood pressure.
- Apelin is implicated in the pathophysiology of hypertension and hypertensive heart disease.
- The role of circulating apelin in essential hypertension and its impact on cardiac function requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate circulating apelin levels in patients with essential hypertension.
- To determine the relationship between apelin levels and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.
Main Methods:
- 232 hypertensive patients and 76 healthy controls were enrolled.
- Plasma apelin levels were measured.
- Echocardiography assessed left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, including myocardial velocities, deformation, and reflectivity.
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients had significantly lower plasma apelin levels than controls (265 ± 127 vs. 330 ± 159 pg/ml; P<0.001).
- The lowest apelin tertile correlated with more severe left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction.
- Apelin was an independent correlate of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function parameters in multivariable analysis.
Conclusions:
- Circulating apelin levels are reduced in essential hypertension.
- Lower plasma apelin is independently associated with impaired left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in these patients.
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