Left Ventricular Geometry and the Levels of Plasma B-type Natriuretic Peptide and Serum Procollagen TypeIII in Essential Hypertensive Patients

Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP), serum procollagen type Ⅲ (PC Ⅲ) levels and left ventricular geometry in essential hypertension. Methods One hundred twenty-seven essential hypertensive patients and 30 control subjects were enrolled. Hypertensive patients were classified into four groups according to echocardiographic findings which were: normal geometry(n=25), concentric remodeling(n=38), eccentric hypertrophy(n=36), or eccentric hypertrophy(n=28). Serum PC Ⅲ was measured by radioimmunoassay, plasma BNP level was determined by a point-of-care immunoassy. Results (1)The levels of plasma BNP and serum PC Ⅲ in essential hypertensive patients were higher than those in normotensive control subjects BNP:80±44 vs 53±29 pg/mL; PC Ⅲ: 99.9±47.4 vs 76.4±31.6 μg/L, respectively (P0.05). The levels of plasma BNP and serum PC Ⅲ in eccentric hypertrophy and concentric hypertrophy groups were higher than those in other groups (BNP:eccentric hypertrophy 93±43 vs concentric hypertrophy 102±54 vs concentric remodeling 64±26 vs nomal geometry 61±27 pg/mL; PC Ⅲ:eccentric hypertrophy 116.2±49.5 vs concentric hypertrophy 113.7±58.8 vs concentric remodeling 86.1±32.5 vs nomal geometry 62.6±35.1 μg/mL ; respectively P0.05). (2) Both plasma BNP and serum PC Ⅲ were significantly correlated left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative left wall thickness(RWT), interventricular septal thickness(IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT); plasma BNP levels were correlated with serum PC Ⅲ levels. Conclusion Plasma BNP and serum PC Ⅲ may contribute to left ventricular remodeling, and may be served as a reliable objective markers for monitoring the developement or reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension.