Comparison of ambulatory left ventricular ejection fraction and blood pressure in systemic hypertension in patients with and without increased left ventricular mass.

To evaluate the effects of long-standing systemic hypertension on left ventricular (LV) function during daily activities, ambulatory radionuclide monitoring of LV ejection fraction (EF) and blood pressure was performed during exercise and other structured activities in 31 hypertensive patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the absence of LV hypertrophy (group 1 [n = 16], LV mass 107 +/- 12 g/m2), presence of LV hypertrophy without electrocardiographic changes (group 2 [n = 10], LV mass 141 +/- 8 g/m2) and LV hypertrophy with associated electrocardiographic changes (group 3 [n = 5], LV mass 158 +/- 9 g/m2). The groups were similar with respect to age, baseline medication, treated and untreated blood pressure, resting EF and treadmill exercise time. Patients in group 3 had the longest history of hypertension. Peak filling rate was normal in group 1 (2.9 +/- 0.4 end-diastolic volume/s), but reduced at rest in groups 2 (2.4 +/- 0.4) and 3 (2.1 +/- 0.3). Patients in group 1 had normal EF responses to exercise and mental stress testing, as well as during routine ambulatory activities. Patients in group 2 had a blunted EF response to exercise, and those in group 3 had a significantly abnormal response. Both group 2 and 3 patients demonstrated abnormal EF responses to mental stress, as well as cold pressor testing in association with significant increases in mean arterial pressure and marked reduction in diastolic filling rate. Decreases in EF were also observed during routine patient monitoring in 3 group 3 patients and 4 group 2 patients. These events were associated with significantly increased blood pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Exercise blood pressure response is related to left ventricular mass

An exaggerated SBP response to exercise has been associated with increased left ventricular (LV) mass in some but not all studies. A total of 43 women and 34 men, aged 55-75 years, without evidence of cardiovascular disease, with a mean resting BP of 142+/-9/77+/-8 mmHg had their BP measured at rest and during maximal treadmill exercise. LV mass was measured using magnetic resonance imaging. LV mass was adjusted for lean body mass, which was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. LV mass was within the normal range for the majority of the subjects. Among the resting and exercise BP indices, maximal SBP was the strongest correlate of LV mass (r=0.41, P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, maximal SBP was independently associated with LV mass after adjustment for lean body mass and gender, explaining 3% of the variance (P<0.05). Maximal exercise SBP is a modest but still independent predictor of LV mass in older persons with normal LV mass. These results raise the possibility that the SBP response to maximal exercise is an early marker of LV hypertrophy.     

Exercise capacity and blood pressure associations with left ventricular mass in prehypertensive individuals

Prehypertensive individuals are at increased risk for developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease compared with those with normal blood pressure. Early compromises in left ventricular structure may explain part of the increased risk. We assessed echocardiographic and exercise parameters in prehypertensive individuals (n=790) to determine associations between exercise blood pressure and left ventricular structure. The exercise systolic blood pressure at 5 metabolic equivalents (METs) and the change in blood pressure from rest to 5 METs were the strongest predictors of left ventricular hypertrophy. We identified the systolic blood pressure of 150 mm Hg at the exercise levels of 5 METs as the threshold for left ventricular hypertrophy. There was a 4-fold increase in the likelihood for left ventricular hypertrophy for every 10-mm Hg increment in systolic blood pressure beyond this threshold (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.18). There was also a 42% reduction in the risk for left ventricular hypertrophy for every 1 MET increase in the workload (OR: 0.58; P<0.001). When compared with low-fit, moderate, and high-fit individuals exhibited significantly lower systolic blood pressure at an exercise workload of 5 METs (155+/-14 versus 146+/-10 versus 144+/-10; P<0.05), lower left ventricular mass index (48+/-12 versus 41+/-10 versus 41+/-9; P<0.05), and prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (48.3% versus 18.7% versus 21.6%; P<0.001). This suggests that moderate improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness achieved by moderate intensity physical activity can improve hemodynamics and cardiac performance in prehypertensive individuals and reduce the work of the left ventricle, ultimately resulting in lower left ventricular mass.     

Relationship between blood pressure and left ventricular mass in male patients with essential hypertension.

We performed retrospective study of the relationship between the severity and duration of hypertension and echocardiographically-detected left ventricular hypertrophy (echo-LVH) in patients with untreated essential hypertension. The subjects consisted of 92 untreated essential hypertensives who were observed for more than 5 years from the onset of diastolic hypertension (greater than or equal to 95 mmHg), and whose left ventricular (LV) mass index was measured at the end of the observation period. On the basis of the frequency of diastolic hypertension during the observation period, the population was categorized in 3 groups. In Group I (32 cases), diastolic hypertension was observed in more than 80% of blood pressures obtained throughout the entire observation period. In Group II (38 cases), diastolic hypertension was observed in 33 to 80% of the observation period. In Group III (22 cases), diastolic hypertension was observed in less than 33% of the observation period. The average diastolic blood pressure during the entire observation period in each group were 101.0, 96.0, and 90.7 mmHg in groups I, II, and III, respectively. The LV mass index was significantly higher in groups I (114.6 g/m2) and II (105.3 g/m2) than in group III (90.7 g/m2) (p less than 0.01). The prevalence of echo-LVH (more than 121 g/m2) was 34.4%, 18.4%, and 4.8% in groups I, II, and III, respectively. The average diastolic blood pressure in patients with echo-LVH (99.3 +/- 5.1 mmHg) was significantly higher than in patients without echo-LVH (95.7 +/- 4.7 mmHg). We concluded that the degree and duration of diastolic pressure elevation are closely correlated to the LV mass index.     

Blunted nocturnal fall in blood pressure and left ventricular mass in elderly individuals with recently diagnosed isolated systolic hypertension

BackgroundFew studies have investigated the relationship between the lack of or reduction of nocturnal blood pressure (BP) fall and left ventricular mass (LVM) in elderly individuals with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), notwithstanding the fact that ISH is the most frequent subtype of uncontrolled hypertension and a powerful risk factor for organ damage. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between blunted nocturnal BP fall and LVM in elderly individuals with ISH that was recently diagnosed (within 2 years) and had never been treated.MethodsA total of 64 elderly patients with recent ISH were recruited among the outpatients of the Hypertension Unit at 1st Institute of Medicine of “La Sapienza” University in Rome, and they underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). According to exclusion criteria, 37 patients were selected for the study. Based on the presence or absence of an almost 10% reduction in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) from day to night, 21 so-called dippers and 16 nondippers, respectively, were identified. All of these 37 patients underwent echocardiography. Relationships between BP recordings and echocardiographic parameters were assessed by univariate analysis. Dippers and nondippers were compared with respect to LVM.ResultsNighttime SBP was closely associated with indexed LVM (LVM/h^2.7) (r = 0.564; P=.001). Nondippers showed significantly higher LVM/h^2.7 compared with dippers (62.43 ± 15.39 g/m^2.7 v 51.33 ± 12.68 g/m^2.7 respectively; P= .021).ConclusionsAn association between blunted nocturnal SBP fall and increased LVM was observed in the early phases of ISH in the elderly. This finding may have important prognostic implications.     

Relationship between left ventricular mass and blood pressure in treated hypertension

This study evaluated prospectively whether there is still a relationship between left ventricular mass and blood pressure once hypertension is treated and determined the relative importance of daytime vs night-time blood pressure, systolic vs diastolic blood pressure and office vs ambulatory blood pressure. A total of 649 patients (305 or 47% female) with essential hypertension, treated with antihypertensive drugs for at least 3 months, underwent office blood pressure measurement and both daytime and night-time ambulatory blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography and echocardiography. Correlations were made between blood pressure values and parameters of left ventricular mass. Electrocardiographic voltage criteria and even more so echocardiographic parameters correlate significantly albeit weakly (r < or = 0.28) with blood pressure in treated hypertension. Correlations are consistently higher when systolic blood pressure is considered. Overall, the best correlations are found between 24-h ambulatory systolic or night-time blood pressure and the Sokolow-Lyon voltage as well as the echocardiographic age and body mass index adjusted left ventricular mass. In conclusion, once hypertension is treated, the relationship between blood pressure and left ventricular mass is low. Nevertheless, in this the largest single centre study of its kind, echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular mass in treated hypertensive subjects correlate better with blood pressure than electrocardiographic parameters. Parameters of hypertrophy are more closely related to systolic blood pressure than to diastolic blood pressure. In accordance with the finding that dippers have a better prognosis than non-dippers, night-time blood pressure consistently correlates better with left ventricular mass than daytime blood pressure.     

Nocturnal blood pressure surge in seconds is a new determinant of left ventricular mass index

Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) surge in seconds (sec‐surge), which is characterized as acute transient BP elevation over several tens of seconds, could be a predictor of target organ damage. However, it is not clear that the severity of sec‐surge is different between sec‐surges induced by sleep apnea (SA) (apnea/hypopnea detected by polysomnography (PSG) or oxygen desaturation) and those induced by non‐SA factors (rapid eye movement, micro arousal, etc.), and sec‐surge variables associate with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) independently of conventional BP variables. The authors assessed these points with 41 patients (mean age 63.2±12.6 years, 29% female) who underwent full PSG, beat‐by‐beat (BbB) BP, and cuff‐oscillometric BP measurement during the night. All patients were included for the analysis comparing sec‐surge severity between inducing factors (SA and non‐SA factors). There were no significant differences in the number of sec‐surges/night between SA‐related sec‐surges and non‐SA‐related sec‐surges (19.5±26.0 vs. 16.4±29.8 events/night). There were also no significant differences in the peak of sec‐surges, defined as the maximum systolic BPs (SBPs) in each sec‐surge, between SA‐related sec‐surges and non‐SA‐related sec‐surges (148.2±18.5 vs. 149.3±19.2 mm Hg). Furthermore, as a result of multiple regression analysis (n = 18), the peak of sec‐surge was significantly and strongly associated with the left ventricular mass index (standardized β = 0.62, p = .02), compared with the mean nocturnal SBPs measured by oscillometric method (β = −0.04, p = .87). This study suggests that peak of sec‐surge could be a better predictor of LVH compared to parameters derived from regular nocturnal oscillometric SBP.     

原发性高血压患者血压变异性与左心室质量指数的相关性分析

目的探讨原发性高血压患者血压变异性(blood pressure variability,BPV)与左心室质量指数(left ventricular mass index,LVMI)的相关性。方法选择我院住院的原发性高血压患者95例,根据心电图、彩色超声心动图检查确定是否伴有左心室肥厚(left ventricular hypertrophy,LVH)分为LVH组42例及无LVH组53例,另选择血压正常且无LVH的健康体检者40例为对照组,收集3组一般临床资料,检测同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)水平,进行24 h动态血压监测,比较3组24 h、夜间、昼间平均血压、收缩压标准差和舒张压标准差及LVMI。结果3组年龄、体质量指数、吸烟、尿酸、血红蛋白、血脂、糖化血红蛋白及各时间段内平均血压比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);3组性别、糖尿病比例、Hcy、肌酐、LVMI及24 h、夜间、昼间收缩压标准差和舒张压标准差比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01)。LVH组男性比例、Hcy、LVMI及24 h、夜间、昼间收缩压标准差和舒张压标准差明显高于无LVH组和对照组(P<0.05),LVH组和无LVH组糖尿病比例和肌酐水平明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义[59.5%和56.6%vs 7.5%,(92.0±4.8)μmol/L和(81.3±15.9)μmol/L vs(65.4±13.2)μmol/L,P<0.05]。无LVH组与对照组LVMI及24 h、夜间、昼间收缩压标准差和舒张压标准差比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.01)。LVH组非杓型高血压比例明显高于无LVH组和对照组(85.7%vs 34.0%、5.0%,P=0.000)。结论BPV与高血压患者的LVH关系密切,其可能作为靶器官损伤最新的独立预测因素。     

Arterial hypertension increases left ventricular mass: role of tight blood pressure control

In middle-age hypertensives from the Gubbio Population Study, we evaluated the relationship between blood pressure (BP) control over a long time and the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). A population survey was performed in 1982-1985 and repeated in 1989-1992. During the second survey, subjects in the age range 40-60 years were invited to undergo an M-mode echocardiographic examination. A total of 487 subjects who participated in both surveys are included in the present analysis. Some of them (294) were normotensive (Group 1), 110 were hypertensive but had never taken antihypertensive drugs (Group 2), 47 hypertensives on drugs were in good BP control (Group 3) and 36 hypertensives on drugs had uncontrolled hypertension (Group 4). BP values at the 1989-1992 examination were, respectively, 122/77, 145/86, 124/78 and 153/91 mmHg, while 7 years earlier were 122/77, 133/84, 136/85 and 152/95 mmHg. Despite normal BP levels in Group 3, left ventricular mass index (LVMi, g/m(2.7)) was greater than in normotensives (42.4+/-10, 46.6+/-13, 47.0+/-10, 51.9+/-15 g/m(2.7)). Accordingly, the prevalence of LVH (LVMi >51 g/m(2.7)) was 18, 26.4, 36.7 and 50% in groups 1-4, respectively. The 193 hypertensives were, thereafter, divided according to BP control (ie <140/90 mmHg) on both surveys (1983-1985 and 1989-1992): 27 hypertensives with optimal BP levels on both visits also had a ventricular mass similar to normotensives and significantly lower than the other hypertensives (LVMi 44.6+/-11.6 vs 48.5+/-13.2, P<0.001). In conclusion, these findings indicate that hypertensive patients with BP values at levels similar to those in normotensives for a long period do not increase their left ventricular mass in comparison to subjects with normal BP levels.     

原发性高血压左心室心肌重量指数与心肌收缩功能的关系

目的 探讨原发性高血压左心室心肌重量指数与心肌收缩功能的关系。方法 以M型超声心动图对75例不同左心室心肌重量指数(LVMI)的原发性高血压患者和47例正常人的左心室心肌收缩功能与收缩末期室壁应力(ESS)的关系进行观察。结果 正常人左心室短轴缩短率(FS)与收缩末期室壁应力(ESS)呈负相关(r=-0.74,P<0.001)。LVMI轻度增加时,收缩功能正常,FS与ESS亦呈负相关(r=-0.71,P<0.001),其回归直线斜率(S)较正常人无明显变化。LVMI明显增加时,收缩功能受损,FS与ESS相关不良(r=-0.25,P<0.05),S明显变小。结论LVMI轻度增加时,心肌收缩功能是后负荷依赖性的;LVMI明显增加时,存在与后负荷无关的左心室心肌收缩功能不全。     

Prevalent influence of systolic over pulse pressure on left ventricular mass in essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Elevated pulse pressure, an index of increased large artery stiffness, has been associated with increased left ventricular mass. It is unknown whether this relation is independent or mediated by other blood pressure components. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined data in 2545 untreated hypertensive subjects (45% women) who underwent echocardiography and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Left ventricular mass increased with all blood pressure components and all associations were closer with ambulatory than with office blood pressure. In a multiple regression analysis, after adjustment for the significant association with age, gender, body weight and duration of hypertension, the proportion of variability of left ventricular mass explained by systolic blood pressure was greater than that explained by other blood pressure components. When different blood pressure components were forced into the same model, the same degree of left ventricular mass variability was accounted for by models including 24-h systolic blood pressure alone, or 24-h mean blood pressure plus 24-h pulse pressure, or 24-h diastolic blood pressure plus 24-h pulse pressure. When 24-h systolic blood pressure and 24-h pulse pressure were forced into the same model, 24-h pulse pressure lost statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The association between pulse pressure and left ventricular mass is explained by systolic blood pressure, which is the main pressure determinant of left ventricular mass in essential hypertension.     

Out-of-hemodialysis-unit blood pressure is a superior determinant of left ventricular hypertrophy

Blood pressures (BPs) obtained in the dialysis unit correlate poorly with ambulatory BP and left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We compared the performance of BP obtained within and outside the dialysis unit as a correlate of LVH. BP was obtained in the dialysis unit using routine and standardized methods and outside the dialysis unit using home and ambulatory BP monitoring in 140 patients (mean age, 56 years; 89 men; 129 blacks; and 59 with diabetes mellitus) on chronic hemodialysis for > or =3 months. Dialysis unit BP recordings were averaged over 2 weeks, and home BP averaged over 1 week. Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed during an interdialytic interval. Echocardiography was performed immediately after dialysis for the assessment of left-ventricular mass. Left ventricular mass/height(2.7) of >51 g/m2 was taken as evidence of LVH. Test performance of various BPs was compared using receiver operating characteristic curves. Average ambulatory BP was 129.7+/-21.2/73.6+/-13.1 mm Hg, home BP was 139.4+/-21.2/79.0+/-12.5 mm Hg, standardized predialysis BP was 142.1+/-21.7/74.9+/-13.3 mm Hg, postdialysis was 120.9+/-20.8/69.6+/-12.5 mm Hg, routine predialysis was 145.6+/-20.7/79.4+/-13.1 mm Hg, and postdialysis was 132.0+/-19.3/72.6+/-11.1 mm Hg. Left ventricular mass/height(2.7) was 59.1+/-16.5, and 68% had LV hypertrophy. Diastolic BP measured by any technique was not associated with LVH. Routine and standardized measurements of BP were similarly weak correlates of LVH. Systolic BP outside the dialysis unit was a stronger correlate of LVH compared with dialysis unit BP.     

Circadian blood pressure pattern in patients with treated hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy

Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensives is an important determinant of prognosis. In the present study 45 patients with treated essential hypertension were divided into two groups: 23 patients had normal left ventricular dimension and 22 patients had echocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). All patients were adequately treated during daytime, but ambulatory blood pressure monitoring showed a distinct abnormal pattern in the LVH group characterized by a lack of blood pressure reduction during the night; 16 of 22 patients with LVH had no blood pressure decline during the night, whereas 17 of 23 patients without hypertrophy showed this reduction (P less than 0.01). In conclusion, patients with hypertension and LVH often reveal a lack of blood pressure decline during the night, which may be the reason for the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (and thus should be managed by a different circadian blood pressure therapy) or which may be the consequence of progressive structural changes in the resistance vessels, along with the development of left ventricular hypertrophy. It is suggested that patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy should have ambulatory twenty-four hour blood pressure monitoring.     

Increased left ventricular mass index and nocturnal systolic blood pressure in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria.

AIMS: To compare left ventricular mass (LVM) index and function in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without microalbuminuria and to investigate the clinical determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS: Echocardiography, electrocardiography and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed in microalbuminuric (n = 29) and normoalbuminuric (n = 29) patients with Type 2 diabetes and no clinical evidence of heart disease. Groups were individually matched for age, sex and diabetes duration and smoking status. RESULTS: LVM index (62 (34-87) vs. 52 (33-89) g/m2.7, P = 0.04) and LVH prevalence, using two out of three definitions, were greater in patients with microalbuminuria (LVM/height2.7: 72 vs. 59%, P = 0.27, LVM/height: 66 vs. 38%, P = 0.04, LVM/body surface area: 59 vs. 31%, P = 0.03). Night-time systolic blood pressure (126 (99-163) vs. 120 (104-157) mmHg, P = 0.005) and the night/day systolic blood pressure ratio (0.92 (0.08) vs. 0.88 (0.06), P = 0.04) were higher in those with microalbuminuria. Systolic and diastolic function were similar in both groups. Linear regression analyses showed that body mass index (BMI) was significantly related to loge LVM index (R2 = 11.8%, P = 0.005) and a relationship with night/day systolic blood pressure was also suggested (R2 = 4.6%, P = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Type 2 diabetes, LVH is more common and severe in those with microalbuminuria. Its presence may be related to raised night/day systolic blood pressure ratio and is significantly related to BMI. The high prevalence of LVH strengthens the case for echocardiographic screening in Type 2 diabetes to identify high risk patients who might benefit from aggressive cardiovascular risk factor intervention.     

Exercise performance in essential hypertension with special reference to blood pressure response and left ventricular hypertrophy.

Exercise performance in essential hypertension (EH) and its relations to blood pressure (BP) response and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were studied. Twenty-three patients with mild to moderate EH and 12 controls underwent symptom-limited (except BP elevation more than 250 mm Hg) ergometer exercise. Exercise performance was evaluated by the oxygen uptake (VO2/kg) at anaerobic threshold (AT) and at peak exercise (Peak). Left ventricular geometry and function, and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were measured using echocardiography. The endpoints of 12 patients (group A) and controls were fatigue. The endpoints of 11 patients (group B) were BP elevation. Though both group A and group B had concentric hypertrophy, group B showed severe LVH compared to group A and controls. The VO2/kg at AT or at Peak was not different among the three groups. Neither BP response or LVMI correlated with exercise performance in EH. We conclude that exercise performance is not disturbed in EH; that BP response to exercise is not related to exercise performance in EH; and that concentric LVH may be a compensatory mechanism to maintain exercise capacity against exaggerated BP elevation in EH.     

Pulmonary hypertension in thalassaemia major patients with normal left ventricular systolic function

Pulmonary hypertension is common in adults with thalassaemia and other haemolytic anaemias. It was hypothesised that regular transfusions in thalassaemia major should both decrease the chronic haemolytic rate and be protective from pulmonary hypertension (PHT). To reduce the contribution of existing cardiac disease to PHT, the subjects were limited to patients with normal left ventricular shortening fractions. Associations with multiple laboratory markers of haemolysis, serum ferritin levels, chest X-rays findings and splenectomy status were also considered. We found no biochemical, transfusional, or clinical (except gender) differences in transfused thalassaemia patients with or without pulmonary hyper tension.     

高血压病患者动态血压参数与左心室舒张功能相关

目的:探讨高血压病患者动态血压参数与左心室舒张功能的相关性。方法: 入选原发性高血压患者137例,询问病史、体检并采用超声心动图测收缩末期左、右心房内径、左心室舒张末期内径（LVEDD）、左心室射血分数（LVEF）。左心室舒张功能测定用二尖瓣舒张早期血流峰值速度/舒张晚期血流峰值速度（E/A）值,以评价左室舒张功能。根据E/A值的大小将原发性高血压患者分为两组,E/A≥1组视为左心室舒张功能正常组（n=54例）,E/A<1为左心室舒张功能不全组（n=83例）。患者均行24h动态血压及血生化检测。结果: (1)左心室舒张功能不全组的24h平均收缩压(24hSBP)、LVEDD明显高于功能正常组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。（2）偏相关性分析显示左室舒张功能与LVEDD、24hSBP呈显著正相关（r值分别为0.70,0.40,P<0.01）。结论: 高血压病患者动态血压参数与左心室舒张功能相关。