[Alteration of left ventricular longitudinal systolic function in 2D-strain in primary aldosteronism: A new target organ damage marker].

OBJECTIVE

Primary hyperaldosteronism is the leading cause of secondary hypertension, and leads to frequent cardiovascular complications. Many studies have studied left ventricular geometry and function in this population, but longitudinal systolic function is still poorly described.

METHODS

We studied 35 hypertensive patients with primary aldosteronism, and 35 with essential hypertension matched for age, sex, body mass index, and 24h blood pressure. Patients benefited from an echocardiography to measure the mass and the geometry of the left ventricle, left ventricle ejection fraction, systolic longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain, and diastolic function.

RESULTS

Compared to essential hypertensive patients, patients with primary aldosteronism presented a significantly higher left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness (60.3±16.1g/m2 vs 47.3±18.6, P=0.003, and 0.44±0.08 vs 0.36±0.06, P=0.00005, respectively), as well as a significantly reduced longitudinal systolic strain (-17.8±3,4 vs -20.3±3,6%, P=0.004). There were no significant differences in the other parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary aldosteronism is associated with a deterioration of longitudinal systolic function of the left ventricle compared with essential hypertensive patients. This marker of cardiac damage, reproducible and easily available in routine could help for the screening of these patients.