[Left-ventricular hypertrophy as a cardiac risk factor: role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system]

Left-ventricular hypertrophy is the result of cardiac adaptation to global or regional overstress and represents an important cardiovascular risk factor, increasing the risk for development of congestive heart failure and incidence of sudden death. This review describes the pathophysiological and biochemical mechanisms involved in the development of left-ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis with particular emphasis on the role of angiotensin II and aldosterone. Central to the cascade of cardiac fibrosis is the increased production or reduced degradation of collagen proteins in fibroblasts. Collagen proteins are proteins needed for the alignment of cellular compartments and the development of forces, contraction and relaxation of the heart. If overexpressed, an important rise of wall stiffness is observed in addition to a reduced capacity to provide oxygen to the cardiac tissue. This latter explains why in areas of histologically hypertrophied heart muscle atrophied muscle cells are observed. The characterization of the second-messenger systems involved in the regulation of cardiac cells as well as the identification of angiotensin-II receptor subtype and angiotensin IV is described. Both of these receptors are present on cardiac fibroblasts and stimulate these to collagen production, which can be inhibited by antagonists or the generation of angiotensin II by ACE inhibitors. In some forms of left-ventricular hypertrophy and in patients with congestive heart failure in addition to elevated angiotensin-II levels, increased aldosterone levels are observed. Aldosterone raises upon stimulation by angiotensin II and upon reduction of angiotensin-II generation subsequent to ACE inhibition through an escape mechanism. The contribution of aldosterone to left-ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis can be prevented and reduced by the administration of its antagonist, spironolactone. Further and larger clinical trials are needed and in progress to evaluate if the combination of an ACE inhibitor with spironolactone potentiates the reduction of left-ventricular hypertrophy and if this translates in a reduction of the cardiovascular risk.