Left ventricular mass index and ventricular septum thickness are associated with serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate levels in hypertensive women.
OBJECTIVE
Several data indicate that endogenous sex steroids might influence left ventricular mass. Our aim was to examine the association between dehyroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) levels and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and ventricular septal thickness (VST) in pre- and in postmenopausal women with treated essential hypertension.


METHODS
LVMI and VST were related to serum DHEAS in 26 pre- and in 34 postmenopausal women. The associations between DHEAS and LVMI, VST were adjusted for body mass index, duration of hypertension, systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and testosterone levels using a multiple regression model.


RESULTS
In premenopausal women there was a significant linear correlation between DHEAS and LVMI (P < 0.02) after adjustment for confounding variables. In contrast, DHEAS was inversely correlated with LVMI and VST in postmenopausal women (r = -0.49, P < 0.02, r =-0.42, P < 0.02, respectively). These associations also remained significant (P = 0.04, P = 0.03, respectively) after adjustment for confounding variables.


CONCLUSIONS
DHEAS might be an independent determinant of LVMI and VST. Its effect on the heart may depend on hormonal milieu. In premenopausal women, DHEAS might have androgenic effects and might enhance fibroblast proliferation; while during the postmenopausal period it is dominantly oestrogenic in action, with antiproliferative effect on cardiac cells.
Szathmári
Miklós
M
First Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Treszl
András
A
Vásárhelyi
Barna
B
D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D002784:Cholesterol