Background Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent and powerful risk factor for cardiovascular events and death. Serum uric acid (SUA) may induce LVH, on one hand, through an inflammatory effect which promotes cardiac hypertrophy and, on the other, through an activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system which generates hypertrophy and hyperplasia of myocytes and fibrosis of the heart

Objectives Aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between SUA levels and left ventricular mass in a group of hypertensive patients

Methods We evaluated 51 patients (mean age 74±10 years; range 49-87, F 37.7%; M 62.3%) with essential hypertension. Each patient underwent a standardized medical history and clinical examination, laboratory tests and echocardiographic assessment with the determination of left ventricular mass index (LVMI)

Results Mean value of SUA was 6.68±2 mg/dl. Mean blood pressure (MAP) was 95±12 mmHg. A positive significant correlation between SUA and LVMI (P=0.029) was observed. After adjusting for MAP and age in standard multiple linear regression analysis, SUA level remains independently associated with LVMI suggesting that increased urate levels are associated with a higher myocardial mass.

Conclusions Our results demonstrate that SUA is independently associated with LVMI and suggest that the combination of hyperuricemia with LVH could be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular events

References

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2. Ayako Yoshimura, Hisashi Adachi, Yuji Hirai, Mika Enomoto, Ako Fukami, Eita Kumagai, Kyoko Ohbu, Sachiko Nakamura, Aya Obuchi, Yume Nohara, Tsutomu Imaizumi. Serum Uric Acid Is Associated With the Left Ventricular Mass Index in Males of a General Population. Int Heart J, January 2014

3. Cristiana Catena, GianLuca Colussi, Frine Capobianco, Gabriele Brosolo and Leonardo A. Sechi. Uricaemia and left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients. Eur J Clin Invest 2014;44(10):972-981

Disclosure of Interest None declared