title: Effects of valsartan treatment on serum ghrelin level and left ventricular mass index in patients with untreated primary hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, left ventricular hypertrophy and serum ghrelin concentration in patients with primary hypertension and effects of angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan on these parameters were determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven patients and 30 age and body mass index matched healthy controls were followed up prospectively. Serum ghrelin level was measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Left ventricular mass was determined by transthoracic echocardiography. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was calculated by dividing the left ventricular mass to body surface area. All patients were started treatment with oral valsartan 80 mg. Follow-up visits were performed every 4 weeks, and the dosage was doubled in subjects with insufficient blood pressure reduction. At the end of the 12th week all measurements were repeated in the patient group. All data were recorded in the computer using SPSS for Windows software. Mann-Whitney U, Student t, Wilcoxon and t tests were used for statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, mean serum ghrelin level was significantly lower in the patients group (14.9 ng/mL) compared to healthy controls (42.1 ng/mL) (p<0.05). After a 12-week antihypertensive treatment of patients, serum ghrelin concentration increased while LVMI decreased (p<0.05, for both). No significant correlation was found between Δ-ghrelin level and Δ-LVMI (r=0.155, p=0.368).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low circulating level of ghrelin in patients with hypertension and its increase after antihypertensive treatment suggest that this peptide need to be explored in the mechanism and complications of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Gülhane School of Medicine; Ankara-Turkey. cmeric2000@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Coşkun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meriç
authors.forename: Aydoğan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydoğdu
authors.forename: İlker
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Taşçı
authors.forename: Ferhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.forename: Oben
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baysan
authors.forename: Muhittin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serdar
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sağlam
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Azal
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068756:Valsartan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D054439:Ghrelin; D000068756:Valsartan