AVP and cardiac hypertrophy: Specifically, the excess water retention caused by arginine vasopressin may cause worsening of congestive heart failure due to diastolic wall stress from the intravascular volume expansion that is caused by the excess retained water; in addition, the elevated arginine vasopressin levels may lead to increased systolic wall stress as a result of arteriolar vasoconstriction produced by activation of vasopressin V1a receptors in the vasculature, and potential stimulation of myocardial hypertrophy because of growth-stimulating effects of vasopressin V1a receptors in the heart.