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Serum aldosterone and its relationship to left ventricular structure and geometry in patients with preserved left

Frank Edelmann1, Andreas Tomaschitz, Rolf Wachter

  • 1Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University of Goettingen, Germany. fedelmann@med.uni-goettingen.de

European Heart Journal
|August 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

High serum aldosterone concentration (SAC) is linked to left ventricular (LV) remodelling, especially in women. This suggests aldosterone may promote structural changes in the heart, impacting cardiovascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Aldosterone plays a role in cardiovascular disease, but its impact on left ventricular (LV) structure is debated.
  • Previous research on aldosterone and LV structure has yielded conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum aldosterone concentration (SAC) and aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) with LV remodelling parameters.
  • To assess these relationships in patients with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 1575 participants with CV risk factors and LVEF >50% was studied.
  • Serum aldosterone concentration (SAC), aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR), and echocardiographic parameters of LV remodelling were measured.
  • Multivariate adjusted analyses (ANCOVA, logistic regression) were performed to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Increased SAC was significantly associated with greater LV mass, LV mass index, relative wall thickness, and LV posterior wall thickness.
  • This association was particularly prominent in women.
  • Higher SAC levels were independently linked to concentric LV hypertrophy in both sexes.
  • No significant associations were found between ARR and LV remodelling parameters.

Conclusions:

  • Circulating aldosterone levels, but not ARR, are independently associated with LV structural changes.
  • Aldosterone-mediated pro-hypertrophic effects may contribute to myocardial structural alterations.
  • These findings highlight a potential mechanism for aldosterone in cardiovascular morbidity.
Abstract

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