title: Presence of albuminuria predicts left ventricular mass in patients with chronic systemic arterial hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) is known to predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. LVM is high in patients with advanced kidney disease. Our aim was to study the relationship between renal parameters and LVM in hypertensive subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac MRI was performed in 527 patients participating in the single-centre SMART cohort study. Participants free from previous symptomatic coronary heart disease but with a history of hypertension were recruited. Subjects were screened for cardiovascular risk factors in a standardized way. Multivariable linear regression was used to study the relationship of both estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and presence of albuminuria with left ventricular mass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean LVM was 121 g for men (SD 26) and 87 g for women (SD 20). Mean eGFR was 82 mL/min/1.73 m(²) (SD 19). A total of 73 patients (14%) had albuminuria. After adjusting for known determinants of LVM (height, weight, sex and age) eGFR did not relate to LVM while presence of albuminuria did (mean change in LVM per 10 mL/min/1.73 m(2) change in eGFR 0.79 g, 95% CI -0.33 to 1.91, P = 0.17, mean change in LVM in presence vs. absence of albuminuria 9.9 g, 95% CI 4.33 to 15.45, P = 0.001). Additional adjustment for systolic blood pressure did not change results (B for eGFR 0.54, 95% CI -0.58 to 1.66, P = 0.35, B for albuminuria 9.09, 95% CI 3.57 to 14.60, P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study in hypertensive patients with high vascular risk, albuminuria was related to increased LVM and eGFR was not.
authors: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: de Beus
authors: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Matthijs F L
authors: MF
authors: Meijs
authors: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Michiel L
authors: ML
authors: Bots
authors: Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Frank L J
authors: FL
authors: Visseren
authors: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Blankestijn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Albuminuria; cardiac MRI; chronic kidney disease; hypertension; left ventricular mass