Tadeusz Francuz, Antoni Lalewicz, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher and David Aebisher
Medical College of The University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland

Part of the book: The Biochemical Guide to Hormones

Abstract

In the last two decades, significant progress has been made in understanding the new biological properties of aldosterone. Aldosterone produced not only in the adrenal glands but also in the heart and blood vessel walls. It has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system, promotes the development of fibrosis in the heart and the vascular wall, it also has a pro-arrhythmogenic effect. Based on recent studies, it can be concluded that the organ complications in primary aldosteronism are caused not only by elevated blood pressure, but also by the direct damaging effects of aldosterone on the heart and vessels. The results of a multicentre study known under the acronym RALES showed that the use of the aldosterone receptor antagonist spironolactone significantly improves the prognosis in patients with heart failure. Aldosterone, as a hormone with a significant role in the long-term regulation of intravascular volume and arterial pressure, has the ability to influence important pathophysiological processes in many disease states.

Keywords: aldosterone, heart and blood vessel walls, mineralocorticosteroid, human mononuclear leukocytes (HML)

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