Plasma Brain Natriuretic Peptide Concentration and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in elderly Hyperension

ObjectiveTo study the relationship between brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)and left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) in elderly essential heypertensives(EH) and the level of BNP before and after treatment with ACEI. Methods Echocardiography was performed to determine left ventricular mass index(LVMI)and E/A ratio. Plasma BNP was measured by RIA in 74 aged hypertensives(mean ages 72.0±11.6 years) with 30 healthy subjects (mean age 69.0±9.6 years) served as control. The elder hypertensives with LVH were treated with benazepril 5-10 mg/d for 36 weeks. Results Plasma BNP was significantly increased (P0.01) in elderly hypertensives with LVH as compared with those without LVH and with health subjects (55.3±25.0 ng/L vs without LVH 38.3±17.9 ng/L, vs healthy 15.2±12.8 ng/L, P0.01). Benazepril treatment significantly decreased plasma BNP and LVMI with LVH (P0.05), increased in the E/A ratio in EH with LVH(P0.01). The plasma BNP positively was correlate with LVMI and negatively with E/A ratio. Conclusion Plasma BNP reflect the left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiodiastolic function in elderly hypertensives.