Effects of valsartan treatment on serum ghrelin level and left ventricular mass index in patients with untreated primary hypertension

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 Delta-ghrelin level and Delta-LVMI (r=0.155, p=0.368). Conclusion: 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.