Plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension

Objective To study the relationship between brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) and left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) in essential heypertensives(EH) and the level of BNP before and after treatment with ARB.Methods Echocardiography was performed to determine left ventricular mass index(LVMI) and E/ A ratio.Plasma BNP was measured by RIA in 63 cases of hypertension(mean age 57.2 ± 6.4 years) with 30 healthy subjects(mean age 54.3±5.8 years) served as control.The hypertensives with LVH were treated with Losartan Potassium Tablets 50-100mg/d for 40 weeks.Results Plasma BNP was significantly increased(P0.01) in hypertensives with LVH as compared with those without LVH and with health subjects.Losartan Potassium Tablets treatment significantly decreased plasma BNP and LVMI with LVH(P0.05),increased 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 reflects the left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiodiastolic function in hypertensives.