Left ventricular mass assessed by electrocardiography and albumin excretion rate as a continuum in untreated essential hypertension

Objective To study an association between albumin excretion rate and left ventricular mass (LVM) determined by electrocardiogram (ECG)-based criteria, and with respect to ambulatory blood pressure, in patients with newly diagnosed and never-treated essential hypertension. Methods We measured 24 h ambulatory blood pressure, albumin excretion rate and LVM in 74 patients with newly diagnosed (within the past year) and never-treated essential hypertension, who were admitted to the hypertension clinic (Ulleval University Hospital). Albumin excretion rate was evaluated by determination of the albumin: creatinine ratio in the first-voided morning urine sample. LVM was assessed by ECG using Cornell voltage-QRS duration product and Sokolow-Lyon criteria. Results Albumin excretion rate was significantly related to ambulatory blood pressure. There was a weak but significant negative correlation between the decrease in diastolic blood pressure during the night and the rate of excretion of albumin. The patients classified as dippers had a significantly lower albumin excretion rate compared with the non-dippers (1.36 +/- 0.83 compared with 1.68 +/- 0.87 mg/mmol; P = 0.03). LVM was found to be significantly related to ambulatory blood pressure. A weak relationship was observed between albumin excretion rate and LVM as evaluated by Cornell criterion (r = 0.23, P = 0.045). When only normoalbuminuric patients were included (i.e. four patients with microalbuminuria were excluded), the relationship was stronger (r = 0.36, P = 0.002). Conclusions The present findings show a continuous relationship between albumin excretion rate, LVM and ambulatory blood pressure in newly diagnosed patients with essential hypertension, and suggest the occurrence of early effects on target organs (kidneys and heart). These associations were observed using easily applicable methods such as ECG monitoring and determination of the albumin: creatinine ratio in morning urine samples. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.