Key result
Normotensive young men with familial hypertension risk exhibit a blunted aldosterone response to angiotensin II.
Why the study?
Does a family history of essential hypertension alter the responsiveness of plasma aldosterone to Angiotensin II infusion in normotensive young men?
Observational (n=22)
Does a family history of essential hypertension alter the responsiveness of plasma aldosterone to Angiotensin II infusion in normotensive young men?
p-value: p=<0.01
Normotensive individuals with a familial predisposition to essential hypertension exhibit a blunted aldosterone response to Angiotensin II, suggesting a distinct pathophysiological disturbance.
Should not yet change practice in normotensive relatives; leaves open whether blunted responsiveness predicts incident hypertension.
The responsiveness of plasma aldosterone to an angiotensin (Ang) II infusion was assessed in normotensive young men, nine without and 13 with a family history of essential hypertension, after 7 days of low (mean urinary sodium 12 +/- 10 mmol/24 h) and 7 days of high (269 +/- 92 mmol/day) sodium intake. Under both conditions, the two study groups did not differ in body weight, arterial pressure, heart rate, plasma or urinary sodium and potassium or plasma renin, aldosterone or Ang II levels. However, after both dietary periods, the relationship between plasma aldosterone and plasma Ang II concentrations had shifted significantly (P less than 0.01) to the right in predisposed compared to non-predisposed subjects. The sodium-related changes in adrenocortical sensitivity to Ang II were similar in the two groups. The pressor response to Ang II did not differ between the two groups of subjects. These findings suggest that, in addition to the known cardiovascular abnormalities of sympathetic, renal and ion transport mechanisms, a fourth area of disturbance involving the response of plasma aldosterone to Ang II may be present in normotensive subjects with familial predisposition to essential hypertension.
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Beretta-Piccoli et al. (1988) conducted an observational in Familial predisposition to essential hypertension (n=22). Familial predisposition to essential hypertension vs. No family history of essential hypertension was evaluated on Responsiveness of plasma aldosterone to angiotensin II infusion (p=<0.01). Normotensive young men with a familial predisposition to essential hypertension exhibited a significantly blunted plasma aldosterone response to angiotensin II infusion compared to controls (P<0.01).