title: [Angiotensin converting enzyme and left ventricular hypertrophy in uremic patients: correlation and therapeutic options].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institut za nefrologiju, Klinicki centar Univerziteta Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina.
authors.forename: Senija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rasić
authors.forename: Amra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catović
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huskić
authors.forename: Azra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haracić
authors.forename: Nermina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.forename: Nesina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Avdagić
authors.forename: Snjezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uncanin
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A