title: Influence of microalbuminuria on left ventricular geometry and function in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE) is associated with an augmented risk of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients and in non-diabetic subjects. Left ventricular hypertrophy has been demonstrated to be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in arterial hypertension and when the ventricular geometry is concentric the relation is even stronger. This echocardiographic and Doppler study was designed to evaluate the influence of microalbuminuria on the left ventricular geometry and function in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes melitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients (16 males, 26 females, mean age 59.6 +/- 6.7 years) with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in the study. Twenty-one patients had an elevated UAE (group 1) and 21 a normal UAE (group 2). M-mode (under two-dimensional control) and Doppler echocardiography were performed after a 4-week washout period off antihypertensive therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The left ventricular mass index was found to be greater than the partition value of 51 g/m2.7 in both groups but was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in group 1. The midwall fractional shortening was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in group 1 in comparison with group 2. The E/A ratio was impaired in both groups but was more significantly reduced (p < 0.02) in group 1. There was a significantly higher prevalence of a left ventricular concentric hypertrophy pattern (19/21 patients, p < 0.001) in group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, an elevated UAE is associated with an increased left ventricular mass index, a higher prevalence of a concentric left ventricular hypertrophy pattern, a depressed midwall systolic performance and a markedly impaired diastolic function...
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, A.O. Fatebenefratelli ed Oftalmico, Macedonio Melloni Hospital, Milan, Italy. maurizio.picca@fastwebnet.it
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picca
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agozzino
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelosi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018450:Disease Progression; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers