title: Left ventricular hypertrophy in asymptomatic essential hypertension: its relationship with aldosterone and the increase in sodium-proton exchanger activity.
abstract: In order to analyse the hormonal and erythrocyte ion transport systems in relation to left ventricular hypertrophy (LV) in essential hypertension, a prospective study of 50 consecutive hypertensive patients under 55 years of age and without prior antihypertensive therapy was performed. Twenty-seven normal subjects with no family history of hypertension served as controls. LV hypertrophy, as assessed by echocardiography, was present in 64% of the hypertensive patients. This showed an increase (P < 0.001) in intra-erythrocyte Na+ concentration (8.1 +/- 1.2 vs 6.9 +/- 1 mmol.l-1.cells-1) and Na+:H+ exchange activity (8.8 +/- 4 vs 5.5 +/- 1.3 mmol.[l.cells.h-1]). There was a significant association between plasma aldosterone levels (19.1 +/- 12 ng.dl-1) with intra-erythrocyte Na+ content (r = 0.370, P < 0.05) and Na+:H+ exchange activity (r = 0.385, P < 0.01) as well as with echocardiographic LV mass index (138 +/- 40 g.m-2, r = 0.393, P < 0.01). The results are consistent with the concept that increased entry of Na+ into cells via Na+:H+ exchange could be a determining factor in left ventricular hypertrophy, which might be influenced by aldosterone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hospital Clínico-University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Navarro-Lopez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coca
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pare
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De La Sierra
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urbano Marquez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D006859:Hydrogen; D012964:Sodium