Background: Normotensive hemodialysis patients may still have left ventricular hypertrophy in the absence of significant pressure or volume overload. We examined the hypothesis that treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor could be beneficial in the reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy in these patients.
Methods: Forty-six normotensive patients with end-stage renal disease on regular hemodialysis therapy were randomly assigned to administration of ramipril, 2.5 mg 3 times/wk, or placebo for 1 year. Left ventricular mass index and parameters of cardiovascular structure and function were evaluated noninvasively by means of echocardiography and arterial tonometry at baseline, 6 and 12 months after treatment, and 1 month after washout.
Results: In the ramipril group, blood pressure decreased significantly at 6 and 12 months after treatment. There were no significant within-group or between-group differences in left ventricular mass index at entry, 6 and 12 months after treatment, and 1 month after washout. There were no significant differences in left atrial dimension, left ventricular size and wall thickness, left ventricular ejection fraction, aortic dimension, intima-media thickness, elastic modulus and augmentation index of the common carotid artery, and aortic pulse wave velocity between the ramipril and placebo groups at entry, 6 and 12 months after treatment, and 1 month after washout.
Conclusion: A 12-month treatment with ramipril did not cause significant regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in normotensive hemodialysis patients. Results may suggest that the renin-angiotensin system has little role in the pathogenesis of mild left ventricular hypertrophy in these patients.