Faculty Collaboration Database

Lack of association between a polymorphism of the aldosterone synthase gene and left ventricular structure. Circulation 1999 May 04;99(17):2255-60

Date

05/05/1999

Pubmed ID

10226090

DOI

10.1161/01.cir.99.17.2255

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0032937208 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   111 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cardiac growth and function may be modulated in part by trophic effects of neurohormones. Specifically, aldosterone has been shown to stimulate the growth of cardiac myocytes and the accumulation of cardiac extracellular matrix proteins. Moreover, a variant of the aldosterone synthase gene (a cytosine/thymidine exchange at position -344 in the transcriptional regulatory region) has been associated with enlargement and disturbed filling of the left ventricle (LV) in a small sample of young white adults. The aim of the present study was to reinvestigate the implications of aldosterone synthase -344C/T allele status for serum aldosterone levels, blood pressure, and LV structure and function in large population-based samples.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Individuals who participated in the echocardiographic substudy of the third MONICA (MONitoring trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease) survey (n=1445) or in the second follow-up of the first MONICA survey (n=562) were studied by standardized anthropometric, echocardiographic, and biochemical measurements as well as genotyping for aldosterone synthase -344C/T allele status. In both surveys, the distribution of sex, age, arterial blood pressure, and body mass index was homogeneous in the aldosterone synthase genotype groups. Echocardiographic LV wall thicknesses, dimensions, and mass indexes were not significantly associated with a specific aldosterone synthase genotype. Likewise, no association was detectable with echocardiographic measures of LV systolic or diastolic function. Data were consistent in both samples and not materially different in subgroups defined by age, sex, or intake of antihypertensive medication. Finally, no significant association was observed for aldosterone synthase allele status and serum aldosterone levels in the group of 562 individuals.

CONCLUSIONS: The data are not in favor of a significant contribution of the C/T exchange at position -344 in the aldosterone synthase transcriptional regulatory region to the variability of serum aldosterone levels, blood pressure, or cardiac size or function as found in 2 white population-based samples.

Author List

Schunkert H, Hengstenberg C, Holmer SR, Broeckel U, Luchner A, Muscholl MW, Kürzinger S, Döring A, Hense HW, Riegger GA

Author

Ulrich Broeckel MD Chief, Center Associate Director, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aldosterone
Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2
Echocardiography
Female
Genotype
Humans
Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular
Male
Middle Aged
Polymorphism, Genetic