Comparison of actions of irbesartan versus atenolol on cardiac repolarization in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy: results from the Swedish Irbesartan Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Investigation Versus Atenolol (SILVHIA)

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is associated with a substantial risk for malignant arrhythmias and sudden death. The effects of antihypertensive therapy on QT dispersion, which reflects cardiac repolarization heterogeneity, in relation to changes in LV mass has not been well studied. Repeat echocardiography and QT measurements (standard 12-lead electrocardiograms) were performed in hypertensive patients with LV hypertrophy, who were randomized double-blind to receive the angiotensin II type 1-receptor blocker irbesartan (n = 44) or the beta(1)-receptor blocker atenolol (n = 48) for 48 weeks, and in 37 matched hypertensive control subjects without LV hypertrophy. LV mass index was related to QT dispersion (r = 0.34, p <0.001). The reduction in LV mass was greater using irbesartan than using atenolol (-27 +/- 28 vs -15 +/- 21 g/m(2) at 48 weeks, p = 0.021), with similar reductions in blood pressure. Irbesartan decreased QT dispersion (from 56 +/- 24 ms to 45 +/- 20 ms at 48 weeks; p <0.001) and QTc dispersion (from 57 +/- 24 to 44 +/- 19 ms at 48 weeks; p <0.001). In contrast, atenolol had minor effects. The decreases in QT and QTc dispersions were greater using irbesartan than using atenolol (p = 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively); the same results were found when changes in LV mass, blood pressure, and heart rate were also included in multivariate analyses. Thus, heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization is related to the degree of LV hypertrophy. Irbesartan, but not atenolol, reduces QT and QTc dispersions independent of changes in LV mass, blood pressure, or heart rate, and thus seems to induce structural and electrical remodeling in a direction that could decrease the risk of fatal events in hypertensive patients.     

Nurse-recorded clinic and ambulatory blood pressures correlate equally well with left ventricular mass and carotid intima-media thickness

OBJECTIVE: To assess relationships between noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure (BP), clinic BP (mean value of three readings in the seated position measured by nurses), structural cardiac indices, intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and several hormones. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of 75 subjects with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (HTH) according to echocardiography, 35 subjects with hypertension and normal left ventricular dimensions (HT) and 23 normotensive subjects (NT). RESULTS: We found an excellent correlation between mean 24-h ambulatory BP and clinic BP, the r-value for systolic BP being 0.82 and for diastolic levels 0.78 (both P < 0.0001). Clinic and ambulatory BP correlated equally well with left ventricular (LV) mass index (r-values between 0.55 and 0.64, all P < 0.0001) and to intima-media thickness of the carotid artery (r = 0.18-0.34, P < 0.01). The systolic white-coat effect (clinic BP - day-time BP) was higher in the HTH and HT compared with NT and was weakly correlated to LV mass index (r = 0.18, P = 0.04). Nondippers (mean arterial night/day BP ratio of > 0.9) had higher brain (6.1 +/- 7.5 pmol L(-1) vs. 3.7 +/- 3.2 pmol L(-1), P = 0.01) and atrial (14 +/- 3.4 pmol L(-1) vs. 9.3 +/- 5.4 pmol L(-1), P = 0.04) natriuretic peptide levels, and also exhibited a lower ejection fraction (49 +/- 8% vs. 57 +/- 9%, P = 0.006), than dippers. CONCLUSION: Clinic BP recordings performed by nurses as three measurements 1 min apart provide excellent relationship to target organ damage. Nondippers exhibited signs of a more advanced hypertensive organ damage than dippers which corresponds well with the poor prognosis linked to this condition.     

The CYP2C9 genotype predicts the blood pressure response to irbesartan: results from the Swedish Irbesartan Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Investigation vs Atenolol (SILVHIA) trial

BACKGROUND: The cytochrome P450 CYP2C9 enzyme (CYP2C9) metabolizes many clinically important drugs, for example, phenytoin, warfarin and the angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor antagonists, losartan and irbesartan. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CYP2C9 gene result in the expression of three important variants, CYP2C9*1(wild-type), CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3, the last two exhibiting reduced catalytic activity compared with the wild-type. The CYP2C9 genotype is known to determine sensitivity to and dose requirements for both warfarin and phenytoin, and also the rate of metabolism of losartan. However, its influence on clinical response to treatment with the AT(1) receptor antagonist, irbesartan, has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the CYP2C9genotype influences the blood pressure-decreasing response to antihypertensive treatment with irbesartan. DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred and two patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy were allocated randomly to groups to receive double-blind treatment with either irbesartan (n = 49) or the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor blocker, atenolol ( n= 53). Blood pressure was measured before and after 12 weeks of treatment. genotyping was performed using solid-phase minisequencing. RESULTS: The diastolic blood pressure (DBP) response differed in relation to the CYP2C9 genotype in patients given irbesartan: the reduction in patients with genotype CYP2C9*1/CYP2C9*1 (n = 33) was 7.5% and that with CYP2C9*1/CYP2C9*2 (n = 12) was 14.4% ( P= 0.036). A similar trend was seen for systolic blood pressure. In contrast, no relation was seen between the CYP2C9 genotype and blood pressure response to atenolol, a drug not metabolized via CYP2C9. CONCLUSIONS: The CYP2C9 genotype seems to predict the DBP response to irbesartan, but not to atenolol, in patients with essential hypertension.     

Effect of irbesartan versus atenolol on left ventricular mass and voltage: results of the CardioVascular Irbesartan Project

Regression of hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with improved prognosis. The aim of this trial was to compare the effects of irbesartan versus atenolol on LVH in subjects with essential hypertension. Because electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters of LVH carry disparate prognostic information, both methods were applied in this trial. In the randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial CardioVascular Irbesartan Project, 240 patients with essential hypertension were treated with irbesartan or atenolol for 18 months. Voltage criteria used for LVH were Sokolow index, Cornell index, Cornell voltage x QRS duration product and Lewis index. In parallel, left ventricular mass (LVM) was determined by 2-dimensional guided M-mode echocardiography. After 6 and 18 months, reductions of LVM and voltage criteria for LVH were only found in subjects treated with irbesartan. However, a reduction of LVM was only detectable in subjects within the highest quartile of baseline LVM but not overall. In contrast, reductions of voltage criteria for LVH were detectable after 6 and 18 months even within commonly used normal limits. In conclusion, treatment of hypertension with irbesartan resulted in a significant reduction in the voltage criteria for LVH, although an effect on LVM was only seen in subjects with high baseline LVM. In contrast, atenolol did not lead to reductions in electrocardiographic or echocardiographic parameters of LVH. Because voltage criteria for LVH have been shown to predict cardiovascular outcome independently from LVM, we suggest that both methods should be used to accurately assess the benefits of antihypertensive treatment.     

Tissue velocity echocardiography shows early improvement in diastolic function with irbesartan and atenolol therapy in patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. Results form the Swedish Irbesartan Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Investigation vs Atenolol (SILVHIA)

BACKGROUND: Abnormal diastolic function is common in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Early identification and treatment may prevent future cardiovascular events. METHODS: We examined 58 hypertensive patients with LVH, 38 with hypertension but no LVH, and 38 normotensive subjects. The effects of the AT1 receptor blocker irbesartan and the beta1 blocker atenolol on diastolic function during 48 weeks of treatment were evaluated in the LVH group by tissue velocity echocardiography (TVE). We measured basal septal and lateral wall velocities of early (Em) and late (Am) diastolic myocardial wall motion, Em velocity deceleration time (E-decm), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRTm). For comparison, diastolic function was assessed by conventional mitral pulse wave Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Diastolic function was impaired in both hypertensive groups. Irbesartan and atenolol (week 48, septal wall) improved IVRTm (-44%, P<.001, and -19%, P<.001; P相似文献   

Effects of lisinopril vs hydralazine on left ventricular hypertrophy and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in essential hypertension

In order to compare the long-term effects on ambulatory bloodpressure and left ventricular hypertrophy of hydralazine andlisinopril we studied 30 patients, all , nales, still hypertensive(diastolic blood pressure 95 mmHg) despite combined beta-blockerldiuretictherapy and with echocardiographic evidence of left ventricularhypertrophy (left ventricular mass index 131 g. m^–1)They were randomized to receive hydralazine slow release 50mg twice daily or lisinopril 20mg once daily in addition toprevious therapy (atenolol 50 mglchlorthalidone 125 mg) for6 months. Casual blood pressure, non-invasive ambulatory bloodpressure monitoring (ABPM), M-mode echocardiogram, plasma reninactivity and plasma catecholamines were evaluated before therandomization and after 6 months of treatment. Both drugs significantlyreduced casual as well as daytime systolic and diastolic bloodpressure, without statistical differrences between the two treatments.Lisinopril was sign more effective than hydralazine in reducingnight-time systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Plasma norepinephrinewas significantly reduced by lisinopril and increased by hydralazine.Left ventricular mass was significantly reduced by lisinoprilbut not by hydralazine. The results of linear regression andmultiple regression analysis suggested that the lisinopril-induceddecrease in both day- and night-time blood pressure might accountfor the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, whereasthe lack of left ventricular hypertrophy regression during hydralazinetreatment could be due mainly to the reflex sympathetic activationinduced by the drug.     

Cardiac repolarization and its relation to ventricular geometry and rate in reverse remodelling during antihypertensive therapy with irbesartan or atenolol: results from the SILVHIA study

Hypertensive left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is associated with a substantial risk for malignant arrhythmias and sudden death. According to recent results, antihypertensive therapy with the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker irbesartan reverses both structural and electrical remodelling. However, the relation between the LV geometric pattern (concentric vs eccentric) and electrical reverse remodelling has not been characterized, neither has the relation between repolarization and rate (QT/RR and JT/RR relation), which presumably reflects the propensity for bradycardia-dependent ventricular arrhythmia. In this study, repeat echocardiographic and electrocardiographic measurements were performed in hypertensive patients with LV hypertrophy, randomized to double-blind therapy with irbesartan (n = 44) or the beta(1)-adrenoceptor blocker atenolol (n = 48) for 48 weeks; 53 patients had concentric and 39 eccentric LV hypertrophy. In addition, 37 matched hypertensive subjects without LV hypertrophy and no current therapy served as controls. Irbesartan induced structural and electrophysiological reverse remodelling, independent of LV geometry. In contrast, atenolol had similar beneficial effect only in patients with concentric LV hypertrophy, while the response in those with eccentric hypertrophy was unfavourable with both prolonged repolarization time and an increased QT/RR slope (suggesting reverse-use dependence). In conclusion, there is a significant geometry-related difference in the reverse remodelling processes induced by irbesartan and atenolol. Echocardiographic characterization of the geometry in hypertension-induced LV hypertrophy might become an important step in the selection of optimal antihypertensive therapy.     

老年原发性高血压患者24小时动态血压与左室肥厚的关系

目的观察老年原发性高血压患者24h动态血压与左室肥厚的关系。方法选择老年原发性高血压患者58例,分别作24小时动态血压及心脏超声心动图检查,观察24h动态血压（包括24h平均收缩压、24h平均舒张压、24h平均脉压）与室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度的关系。结果24h平均收缩压、24h平均脉压与室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度有相关性（分别为前者：r=0.415、P〈0.01,r=0.363、P〈0.01;后者：r=0.336,P〈0.05,r=0.346,P〈0.05）。结论老年原发性高血压患者随着24h平均收缩压增高、24h平均脉压增大而左室肥厚。     

Early changes of left ventricular function in young adults with never-treated hypertension and no left ventricular hypertrophy: relationships to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

The number of young adults with hypertension (HT) is increasing. We investigated the changes of left ventricular (LV) function and their relationship to the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) parameters in young adults with never-treated HT and no LV hypertrophy.

Consecutive young patients (29.5?±?5.9 years) with first diagnosed primary HT and sex- and age-matched normotensive controls were enrolled. We excluded patients who had LV hypertrophy. ABPM was performed in all HT patients. LV strain values were obtained by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging.

There was no difference in LV ejection fraction and mass index between HT patients (n?=?40) and controls (n?=?40). LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was lower (p?=?0.001) and twist was higher (p?=?0.002) in HT patients than in controls. LV GLS was significantly correlated to averaged and daytime diastolic BP and its variability and most related to daytime diastolic BP (β?=?0.33, p?=?0.03). Patients with high daytime diastolic BP and its variability showed lower GLS (both p?=?0.02) and higher twist (both p?=?0.04) than patients with low daytime diastolic BP.

Early changes of LV function with decreased GLS and increased twist were shown in young HT patients even with no LV hypertrophy and daytime diastolic BP and its variability were related to the impairment of LV function.     

Nocturnal blood pressure reduction and development of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with treated essential hypertension

Background: Decreased blood pressure (BP) during the night may serve as a means of recovery for the cardiovascular system. No such decrease may represent a burden, possibly related to end organ damage not recognized by casual measurements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of circadian BP to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensives as documented by echocardiography and/or 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Methods: The subjects were 26 hypertensive patients who had been followed-up and treated at the University Hospital in Basel for 3-18 years and whose ECGs were suitable for determining the presence or progression of LVH. Ambulatory BP was taken in all patients, and echocardiographical measures could be obtained in 20 patients. Signs of LVH in ECG and echocardiography were correlated with circadian BP. Results: Eight of the 26 patients had ECG signs of LVH although their office BP did not differ from that in the group without ECG evidence of LVH. Ambulatory BP recordings followed a different pattern in that only patients with ECG signs of LVH showed no reduction in night-time BP; daytime BPs were similar in both groups. The 10 patients who had echocardiographic signs of LVH did not show a night-time reduction in BP while those without did, and a significant one. Conclusions: Lack of night-time BP reduction may be important for the development of, or the lack of regression of, LVH in hypertensives despite apparently good control during office measurements.     

Reclassification of adolescent hypertension by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring using adult norms and association with left ventricular hypertrophy

2017 pediatric blood pressure (BP) guidelines applied adult BP norms to define clinic hypertension (HTN) in patients ≥ 13 years. 2014 pediatric ambulatory BP monitor (ABPM) guidelines recommend age‐ and sex‐specific percentile norms for patients < 18 years. The authors evaluated reclassification of HTN when applying adult ABPM norms in patients ≥ 13 years and assessed the association of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with HTN. Charts of patients 13–17 years with ABPM 9/2018–5/2019 were reviewed for sex, age, height, weight, BP medication, ABPM results, and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). American Heart Association 2005 (AHA 2005), AHA 2017 (AHA 2017), and European Society of Hypertension 2018 (ESH 2018) guidelines for adult ABPM were compared with 2014 AHA pediatric norms (pABPM). HTN was defined by each guideline using only ABPM. ABPM and clinic BP were used to classify white coat hypertension (WCH) and masked hypertension (MH). LVH was defined as LVMI > 51 g/m^2.7. 272 patients had adequate ABPM. 124 patients also had echocardiogram. All adult norms resulted in significant reclassification of HTN. LVMI correlated significantly with systolic BP only. The odds of a patient with HTN having LVH was significant using AHA 2005 (OR: 8.75 [2.1, 36.4], p = .03) and ESH 2018 (OR: 4.94 [1, 24.3], p = .002). Significant reclassification of HTN occurs with all adult norms. HTN is significantly associated with LVH using AHA 2005 and ESH 2018. Applying pediatric norms for ABPM while using adult norms for clinic BP causes confusion. Guideline selection should balance misdiagnosis with over‐diagnosis.     

Correlates of pulse pressure reduction during antihypertensive treatment (losartan or atenolol) in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (the LIFE study)

In hypertensive patients, pulse pressure has been related to hypertension-induced target organ damage and risk of cardiovascular events. However, correlates of pulse pressure reduction during antihypertensive treatment have been less extensively investigated. We related pulse pressure changes to clinical and echocardiographic findings before and after 2 years of antihypertensive treatment in 767 patients aged 55 to 80 years (mean 66) in the Losartan Intervention For End point reduction in hypertension study. Over 2 years, blood pressure and pulse pressure were reduced from 173/98 to 147/84 mm Hg and from 75 to 63 mm Hg, respectively, both p <0.001. In linear multivariate analysis controlling for initial pulse pressure, 2-year reduction in pulse pressure correlated negatively with age and concomitant diabetes mellitus, and positively with body height and 2-year reduction in mean blood pressure (multiple R(2) = 0.42, p <0.01). When dividing the study population into 2 groups using a prognostically validated partition for pulse pressure, patients with pulse pressure > or =63 mm Hg after 2 years of antihypertensive treatment (n = 349) were older and shorter, included more women and patients with isolated systolic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, albuminuria, and echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy at baseline, and also had a smaller decrease in mean blood pressure and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio over 2 years (all p <0.05). Thus, in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy, older age, less reduction in mean blood pressure, concomitant diabetes mellitus, and shorter stature are associated with attenuated pulse pressure reduction during antihypertensive treatment.     

原发性高血压与肾性高血压的动态血压特点及其与心肌肥厚的关系

目的:观察原发性高血压与肾性高血压的动态血压特点,以了解其致心肌肥厚原因。方法:128例高血压患者被分为原发性高血压组64名,肾性高血压组64名,2组患者心脏B超均提示有心肌肥厚。比较2组的脉压(PP)、血压变异性(BPV)、白天平均收缩压(dSBP)、白天平均舒张压(dDBP),夜间平均收缩压(nSBP)、夜间平均舒张压(nDBP);彩色多普勒测定心肌重量指数(LVMI),统计分析LVMI与各动态血压指标的相关性。结果:肾性高血压组的PP、BPV较原发性高血压组明显增高(P<0.01),2组的dSBP、dDBPnSBP、nDBP差异无显著性;2组的LVMI均与PP、BPV明显相关。结论:原发性高血压与肾性高血压的心肌肥厚均与PP、BVP相关,提示PP、BPV可能是心肌肥厚的预测因子;在平均动脉压相同的情况下,肾性高血压比原发性高血压对心肌的损害作用更大。     

高血压患者血压昼夜节律与左室肥厚及舒张功能的关系

目的观察高血压患者血压昼夜节律与左室肥厚及舒张功能的关系。方法对40名正常血压对照者和60例高血压病患者的血压昼夜节律与超声心动图左室心肌重量指数及舒张功能进行观察。结果发现血压昼夜节律消失的高血压患者左室肥厚检出率(36.6%)显著高于血压昼夜节律正常者(13.6%),血压昼夜节律减退者及倒置者左室重量指数(LVMI)与对照组及高血压昼夜节律存在者差异有统计学意义。左室舒张功能,高血压组中血压昼夜节律消失、减退者与血压昼夜节律正常者比较差异有统计学意义,而高血压组中血压昼夜节律存在者与对照组比较差异无统计学意义。结论血压昼夜节律对左室肥厚(LVH)发生、发展及舒张功能有重要影响,高血压治疗不仅应控制血压,而且应重视恢复正常的血压昼夜节律。     

高龄高血压患者动态脉压和血脂与左心室肥厚的关系

目的探讨高龄高血压患者动态脉压(APP)和血脂与左心室肥厚(LVH)的相关性。方法入选年龄≥80岁的高血压患者110例,进行24 h动态血压监测、超声心动图检查及血脂检测。根据APP分为高脉压组(≥60mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)74例和低脉压组(<60 mm Hg)36例,以左心室重量指数(LVMI)作为LVH的诊断标准,又分为LVH组50例和非LVH组60例。并进行相关分析和logistic回归分析。结果与低脉压组比较,高脉压组LVMI、LVH的发生率及各收缩压参数明显升高(P<0.05)。LVH组24 h收缩压、昼间收缩压、APP、脉压指数明显高于非LVH组(P<0.05),2组舒张压差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。LVMI与APP、脉压指数、24 h收缩压、昼间收缩压、夜间收缩压呈正相关,与HDL-C呈负相关(P<0.05),与所有舒张压参数均无相关性(P>0.05)。APP是LVH的独立危险因素(OR=1.057,95%CI:1.018～1.096,P=0.003)。结论在高龄高血压患者中,APP与LVMI密切相关,是LVH的独立危险因素;HDL-C与LVMI密切相关。     

Predictive criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy given by ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure in hypertension of the elderly]

Eighty-nine patients over 65 years of age, with mild to moderate hypertension, underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring during 1988 and 45 of them also underwent echocardiography. Concentric left ventricular hypertrophy was diagnosed in 9 patients (20%) and criteria predictive of this complication were looked for in the results of the ambulatory pressure monitoring. The most predictive factors seemed to be: nocturnal systolic blood pressure (the average of the systolic values recorded between 22 h and 6 h); the percentage of excessive nocturnal values (values over 120/80 during the same nocturnal period); the loss of diurnal rythm with absence of the clearcut difference between the daytime and nocturnal blood pressure value; increased differential pressure, a sign of reduced arterial compliance. These notions, based on ambulatory blood pressure recordings, have diagnostic and prognostic implications (need for echocardiography) and important therapeutic consequences (drugs reducing LHV and improving arterial compliance).     

Myocardial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction in patients with hypertension: results from the Swedish Irbesartan Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Investigation versus Atenolol (SILVHIA)

OBJECTIVES: Hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and an excess in myocardial collagen. Myocardial fibrosis may cause diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. Circulating levels of the carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (PICP), an index of collagen type I synthesis, correlate with the extent of myocardial fibrosis. This study examines myocardial fibrosis in relation to blood pressure, left ventricular mass (LVM), and diastolic function. METHODS: We examined PICP levels in 115 patients with hypertensive LVH, 38 with hypertension but no hypertrophy, and 38 normotensive subjects. Patients with LVH were subsequently randomly assigned to the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker irbesartan or the beta1 receptor blocker atenolol for 48 weeks. Diastolic function was evaluated by tissue velocity echocardiography (n=134). We measured basal septal wall velocities of early (Em) and late (Am) diastolic myocardial wall motion, Em velocity deceleration time (E-decm), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRTm). RESULTS: Compared with the normotensive group, PICP was elevated and left ventricular diastolic function was impaired in the hypertensive groups, with little difference between patients with and without LVH. PICP related to blood pressure, IVRTm, Em, and E/Em, but not to LVM. Irbesartan and atenolol reduced PICP similarly. Only in the irbesartan group did changes in PICP relate to changes in IVRTm, and LVM. CONCLUSION: Myocardial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction are present in hypertension before LVH develops. The findings with irbesartan suggest a role for angiotensin II in the control of myocardial fibrosis and diastolic function in patients with hypertension with LVH.     

Value of ambulatory intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring in the long-term prediction of left ventricular hypertrophy and carotid atherosclerosis in essential hypertension

The aim of this study was to compare the abilities of clinic and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) to predict the long term occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy and carotid atherosclerosis in uncomplicated hypertensive patients. Two hundred and ninety-five patients who had undergone 24-h ambulatory intra-arterial BP monitoring on the basis of an elevated clinic BP, attended follow-up at a mean of 10.2 (+/- 3.5) years later. This consisted of a history, physical examination, risk factor profile and serum cholesterol level. Echocardiography and carotid ultrasonography were also performed to determine left ventricular mass index and maximal intima-media thickness (IMTmax), a measure of carotid atherosclerosis severity. The factors most strongly correlated with both left ventricular mass index and IMTmax were age, 24-h mean pulse pressure and 24-h mean systolic BP. Age, 24-h mean systolic BP and body mass index were independent correlates of left ventricular hypertrophy (R2 = 17%), whereas age, 24-h mean pulse pressure and pack years were independent predictors of carotid atherosclerosis (R2 = 34%). Clinic BP did not feature in the final model for the long term prediction of cardiovascular end-organ damage. These findings promote a role for ambulatory BP monitoring in guiding aggressiveness of drug therapy in an attempt to limit potential target organ damage.