This study examined the association between the 2344 C/T polymorphism of the human aldosterone synthase promoter and left ventricular structure in arterial hypertension. Because of conflicting results from different studies, the mechanism of such an association, if any, has not been determined. We examined the aldosterone synthase promoter genotype in 120 young (age: 26 ± 3 years) male, white subjects with normal or mildly elevated blood pressure. Left ventricular structural parameters and urinary sodium excretion over 24 h before and after additional oral sodium load (6 g/day over 1 week) were determined. Hypertensive subjects with the 2344 CC genotype of the aldosterone synthase promoter are characterized by a pattern of early eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Differences in renal sodium handling across the genotypes might contribute to this finding.
