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Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations in essential hypertension
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City Japan University Medical School.
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Plasma adrenomedullin levels are elevated in hypertensive patients with kidney dysfunction. Antihypertensive therapy did not alter these elevated adrenomedullin (ADM) concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a novel vasorelaxant peptide with potential roles in cardiovascular and renal function.
- Hypertension is often associated with renal dysfunction, but the specific role of ADM in this context requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma adrenomedullin concentrations in patients with essential hypertension and varying degrees of renal function.
- To assess the impact of antihypertensive therapy on plasma ADM levels in hypertensive individuals.
Main Methods:
- Plasma ADM concentrations were measured in 45 untreated essential hypertensive patients, 15 borderline hypertensive patients, and 30 normotensive controls.
- Measurements were repeated after 4 weeks of calcium channel blocker-based antihypertensive therapy.
- Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was used to identify the major form of ADM in plasma.
Main Results:
- Plasma ADM concentrations were significantly higher in hypertensive patients with increased serum creatinine or decreased glomerular filtration rates compared to borderline hypertensive and normotensive subjects.
- ADM levels showed a positive correlation with serum creatinine and an inverse correlation with glomerular filtration rate in hypertensive patients.
- Antihypertensive therapy did not significantly alter plasma ADM concentrations, despite effective blood pressure control.
Conclusions:
- Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations are elevated in hypertensive patients, particularly those with renal dysfunction.
- The primary circulating form of ADM in both normotensive and hypertensive individuals is human adrenomedullin-(1-52).
- ADM levels do not appear to be directly influenced by blood pressure control achieved through standard antihypertensive therapy in this cohort.
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