Role of aldosterone and bradykinin in pathogenesis of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with primary hypertension

Background Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as a result of hypertension (HT) is a relevant risk factor for cardiovascular complications. The aim of the study was to assess the role of aldosterone and bradykinin in the pathogenesis of LVH in patients in different stages of HT. Material and methods The investigations were carried out in 100 hypertensive patients (56 male, 44 female) including 34 patients with mild, 45 with moderate, 21 with severe HT. 31 healthy individuals served as controls. Each subject underwent echocardiographic examination and evaluation of aldosterone serum (ALDO) and bradykinin plasma concentration (BRADY) by radioimmunoassay. Results Left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 48 patients. ALDO and BRADY were significantly higher in hypertensives with LVH than in the group without LVH. In multivariate analysis ALDO as well as BRADY correlated positively and independently with LVM and LVMI only in the group of severe HT. Independent correlations between BRADY and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) in the whole group of HT as well as in the control group HT were observed. Conclusions The results of the study indicate the role of aldosterone in the process of LVH. The role of bradykinin as a part of neurohumoral counterregulation in cardiac remodelling is also possible.