title: Aldosterone contributes to elevated left ventricular mass in black boys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) poses a great risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults and may pose a serious risk in children. Adult studies have shown that renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) levels directly correlate with left ventricular mass index (LVMI). The purpose of this study is to explore race- and sex-related effects of the RAAS on LVMI in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from a sample of 89 blacks (44 girls, 45 boys) and 102 whites (40 girls, 62 boys) aged 15-19. Data collected included sex, age, body mass index (BMI), LVMI, baseline blood pressure, and levels of aldosterone and angiotensin II.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In black males, increased aldosterone levels correlated with decreased sodium excretion (r= -0.336, p=0.024), increased blood pressure (r=0.358, p=0.016), and increased LVMI (r=0.342, p=0.022). In black females, increased aldosterone levels correlated with increased baseline blood pressure (r=0.356, p=0.018). In white males, increased aldosterone correlated with decreased sodium excretion (r= -0.391, p=0.002). In white females, aldosterone levels correlated with increased baseline blood pressure (r=0.323, p=0.042) and decreased sodium excretion (r= -0.342, p=0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest the following model in black males: increased aldosterone leads to increased sodium retention, causing a volume-mediated increase in blood pressure; increased blood pressure results in increased left ventricular mass, and eventually LVH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Georgia Health Sciences University, MCG Annex H.S. 1640, Augusta, GA, 30912-4534, USA. dmurro@georgiahealth.edu
authors.forename: Diana G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Murro
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beavers
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Harshfield
authors.forename: Gaston K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Kapuku
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009318:Natriuresis; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone