PP.32.15: POST-SALINE LOAD PLASMA ALDOSTERONE LEVEL IS A DETERMINANT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION. (June 2015) - Catena, C.
Abstract : Objective: Hypertension-related changes in cardiac morphology are under the influence of several factors, and a contribution of plasma aldosterone (PA) to left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy has been suggested in previous studies. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships of PA levels measured after a standard intravenous saline load with LV mass in primary hypertension. Design and method: In 90 untreated, grade 1–2, hypertensive patients (age 48 ± 13 yr., 54 males) PA and active renin were measured before and after infusion of 2 L of saline in 4 hours. Secondary forms of hypertension were excluded by exhaustive examination in all patients. LV morphology and function were assessed by standard echocardiography. Results: LV hypertrophy was detected in 17 (19%) patients and baseline PA levels were significantly higher in patients with LV hypertrophy (174 ± 89 pg/ml) than patients with normal LV mass (117 ± 73 pg/ml, P = 0.024). The LV mass index was directly related to age (r = 0.290, P = 0.005), body mass index (r = 0.344, P = 0.001), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.246, P = 0.020), duration of hypertension (r = 0.232, P = 0.032), baseline PA (r = 0.221, P = 0.036), and post-saline load PA (r = 0.288, P = 0.006) levels, and inversely related to GFR (r = -0.273, P = 0.009). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the LV mass index was independently related with body mass index (B = 0.270, P = 0.011), systolic blood pressure (B = 0.212, P = 0.042), and post-saline load PA levels (B = 0.251, P = 0.013). Conclusions: Plasma aldosterone levels measured after an intravenous saline load are independently related to LV mass in patients with primary hypertension.