[Atrial natriuretic peptide, left ventricular mass and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in essential arterial hypertension of a mild or moderate degree].
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and left ventricular mass in essential hypertension was assessed.


METHODS
Immunoreactive ANP in 10 normal subjects and 20 untreated patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension was compared with echocardiographic measurement of cardiac size, function and blood pressure. Venous plasma concentrations of ANP were also studied in relation to urinary sodium and potassium excretion, as well as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.


RESULTS
Plasma ANP was higher in hypertensive patients (25.3 +/- 13.3 pg/ml; p = 0.003) than normotensive subjects (11.1 +/- 2.7 pg/ml). In hypertensive patients, plasma ANP was inversely related to plasma renin activity (PRA) (r = -0.6; p = 0.009). No relationship was found between ANP and blood pressure, nor between the indices of left ventricular mass and function or urinary electrolytes.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that circulating ANP is, in average, significantly increased in hypertensive patients, consistent with previous reports. Our data do not support a direct link between left ventricular mass and increased plasma ANP levels in hypertensive patients. Whether the inverse relationship between ANP and PRA in this pathologic state is a direct one or merely a secondary association has not been clearly established.
Gambini
G
G
Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Istituto di Patologia Medica (R), c/o Ospedale S. Maria, Terni.
Talamonti
D
D
Valori
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*
D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D012083:Renin
Peptide natriuretico atriale, massa ventricolare sinistra e sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterone nell'ipertensione arteriosa essenziale di grado lieve o moderato.