[Angiotensin converting enzyme and left ventricular hypertrophy in uremic patients: correlation and therapeutic options].
BACKGROUND
Anemia has been shown to be a key component of renal failure, as well as of the occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), with special attention paid to the paracrine mechanism of left ventricular remodelling.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to analyze possible association of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and LVH in hemodialysis patients with anemia treated with human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEpo) during six months.


METHODS
LV geometry was determined by echocardiographic analysis in 20 hemodialysis patients before and after erythropoietin treatment. Serum ACE activity was measured by spectrophotometric method using hippyril-l-histidyl-l-leucin as a substrate.


RESULTS
Serum ACE activity increased to 47.3% in hemodialysis patients with LVH as compared to patients with normal LV mass. A significant positive correlation was found between the level of ACE activity and LV mass index (p=0.004). Six-month erythropoietin treatment of anemia led to a significant reduction of LV mass index (p<0.008) and serum ACE activity (p=0.003) from the initial values.


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of serum ACE activity are associated with LV geometry. Our findings suggested the possibility of simultaneous and modest modulation of LV mass and serum ACE activity with rHuEpo correction of renal anemia.
Rasić
Senija
S
Institut za nefrologiju, Klinicki centar Univerziteta Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina.
Catović
Amra
A
Huskić
Jasmin
J
Haracić
Azra
A
Babić
Nermina
N
Avdagić
Nesina
N
Uncanin
Snjezana
S
D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A