ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been known as an important predictor of prognosis of cardiovascular disease. Carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (PIP) is related with myocardial fibrosis. We sought to analyze the differences in the characteristics of LVH, myocardial fibrosis, and LV functions among hypertension (HBP), diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic renal failure (CRF). METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients with LVH. Patients were grouped as HBP (n=50), DM (n=41), CRF (n=31). Age and sex-matched normal control was also enrolled (n=32). Echocardiography and blood sampling for serum PIP level measuring was performedin all participants. RESULTS: There were no differences in baseline characteristics except systolic blood pressure among four groups. In three patients groups, their LV mass indices were significantly increased than control. Serum PIP level in CRF was much higher than others (CRF 1505.5 vs. HBP 868.7 vs. DM 687.5 vs. control 826.4, p<0.0001). LV diastolic and systolic function evaluated by E', E/E, S' and midwall fractional shortening was significantly decreased in three patients groups. However, LAVi was significantly elevated and LV ejection fraction was significantly decreased in CRF compared to others. In correlation analysis, indices of diastolic function were weakly, but statistically correlated with PIP (E': r=0.234, p=0.006; LAVi: r=0.231, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: In CRF, LV function was more deteriorated and serum PIP was more elevated when compared to HBP or DM. Therefore, myocardial fibrosis may play an important role to LV dysfunction as well as LV hypertrophy in CRF in some degree.