In vitro strain measurement in the porcine antrum using ultrasound doppler strain rate imaging

Strain rate imaging (SRI) enables study of deformation in soft tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of SRI in measuring strain in the porcine antral wall in vitro. An experimental set-up enabled controlled distension of a porcine stomach in a saline reservoir. Radial strain obtained by SRI was compared with radial strain calculated from B-mode ultrasonography. Circumferential strain obtained by SRI was compared with circumferential strain calculated from sonomicrometry. The agreement between radial strain values measured by SRI and B-mode, along and across several ultrasound (US) beams, using US frequency 6.7 MHz and strain length (SL) = 1.9 mm was = -1.0 +/- 12.1% and 0.5 +/- 13.4%, respectively (mean difference +/- 2SD%) and it was better than with SL 1.2 mm. Compared with sonomicrometry, SRI-determined circumferential strain using 6.7 MHz and SL = 1.9 mm was less accurate, whether averaging along or across several US beams (-9.2 +/- 46.7% and 13.8 +/- 51.2%, respectively). In conclusion, SRI gave accurate measurement of radial strain of the antral wall, but seemed to be less accurate for measurement of circumferential strain for this in vitro set-up.     

Assessment of regional long-axis function during dobutamine echocardiography

Echocardiographic analysis of regional left ventricular function is based upon the assessment of radial motion. Long-axis motion is an important contributor to overall function, but has been difficult to evaluate clinically until the recent development of tissue Doppler techniques. We sought to compare the standard visual assessment of radial motion with quantitative tissue Doppler measurement of peak systolic velocity, timing and strain rate (SRI) in 104 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography (DbE). A standard DbE protocol was used with colour tissue Doppler images acquired in digital ciné-loop format. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), time to peak velocity (TPV) and SRI were assessed off-line by an independent operator. Wall motion was assessed by an experienced reader. Mean PSV, TPV and SRI values were compared with wall motion and the presence of coronary artery disease by angiography. A further analysis included assessing the extent of jeopardized myocardium by comparing average values of PSV, TPV and SRI against the previously validated angiographic score. Segments identified as having normal and abnormal radial wall motion showed significant differences in mean PSV (7.9 +/- 3.8 and 5.9 +/- 3.3 cm/s respectively; P < 0.001), TPV (84 +/- 40 and 95 +/- 48 ms respectively; P = 0.005) and SRI (-1.45 +/- 0.5 and -1.1 +/- 0.9 s(-1) respectively; P < 0.001). The presence of a stenosed subtending coronary artery was also associated with significant differences from normally perfused segments for mean PSV (8.1+/-3.4 compared with 5.7+/-3.7 cm/s; P < 0.001), TPV (78 +/- 50 compared with 92 +/- 45 ms; P < 0.001) and SRI (-1.35 +/- 0.5 compared with -1.20 +/- 0.4 s(-1); P = 0.05). PSV, TPV and SRI also varied significantly according to the extent of jeopardized myocardium within a vascular territory. These results suggest that peak systolic velocity, timing of contraction and SRI reflect the underlying physiological characteristics of the regional myocardium during DbE, and may potentially allow objective analysis of wall motion.     

应变率成像鉴别左室舒张功能假性正常

目的探讨二尖瓣环不同位点的应变率检测在鉴别左室舒张功能假性正常中的应用价值。方法对左室舒张功能假性正常的28例高血压患者和25例对照组病例,于二尖瓣环水平4个位点进行应变率成像（SRI）检测,并与多普勒组织成像（DTI）检测结果对比分析。结果左室舒张功能假性正常组SRI显示瓣环平面不同位点的舒张早期峰值（SRe）降低,而舒张晚期峰值应变率（SRa）均明显升高,与对照组比较差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。SRe与DTI舒张期早期运动速度（Em）呈正相关（r=0．46,P〈0．05）;SRa与舒张期晚期运动速度（Am）呈正相关（r=0．76,P〈0．05）。假性正常组SRI检查位点阳性（SRe／SRa〈1）总检出率为97．3％,大于DTI的位点阳性（Era／Am〈1）总检出率86．6％,且P〈0．05。结论SRI技术能较准确地鉴别左室舒张功能假性正常,可作为临床正确评价左室舒张功能一种全新无创的检测方法。     

超声应变率显像技术估测犬的右心室长轴收缩功能

目的探讨超声应变率显像技术对犬的右心室长轴收缩功能的评估价值。方法采集7只犬心尖四腔心切面右室游离壁在5种不同心肌收缩力状态下的组织多普勒超声图像,同步记录右室等容收缩期最大压力上升速率(maxdp/dt),并作为金指标。QLAB分析软件分别测量长轴方向右室游离壁基底段、中段收缩期平均峰值速度(V)、平均峰值应变率(SR)和平均峰值应变(S),并与右室maxdp/dt作直线相关分析。结果应用多巴酚丁胺(dobutamine)后右室游离壁基底段、中段收缩期V、SR、S增加,应用艾司络尔(esmolol)上述各指标明显下降。与maxdp/dt相关分析表明,右室游离壁基底段和中段收缩期V、SR和S与dp/dt显著相关,但以SR最显著。结论超声应变率显像技术可定量估测右室长轴收缩功能,右室游离壁基底段、中段收缩期SR是无创性估测右室长轴收缩功能的良好指标。     

Improvement of heart function after balloon dilation of congenital valvar aortic stenosis: a pilot study with ultrasound tissue Doppler and strain rate imaging

The aim was to investigate the effects of balloon dilation of congenital valvar aortic (Ao) stenosis on heart function with conventional and with new echocardiographic techniques. Nine patients, preballoon and 1 to 4 d postballoon dilation of Ao-valve, were included in the study. Assessment of heart function was made by using conventional echo/Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and strain rate imaging (SRI). Mean (and standard deviation) of posttreatment drop of aortic valve pressure gradient was 34.1 (sd 14.0) mmHg, p < 0.01. Conventional echo/Doppler end-diastolic left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) thickness and interventricular septum (IVS) thickness did not change significantly. Mean change of LV fractional shortening (FS) was -5.2 (sd 3.2)%, p < 0.01. The observed changes of FS did not significantly correlate to the magnitude of pressure gradient changes. Changes of TDI and SRI parameters indicated that an increase in absolute value is observed in most cases, but correlation to pressure gradient change remains poor, with a few exceptions, both in LV free wall (LVFW) and IVS. Data from IVS are more consistent than of LVFW. It is concluded that the global functional parameter FS assessed by conventional echo/Doppler has diagnostic value for the assessment of (improved) heart function already shortly after intervention, when compared with the pretreatment value. Local parameters from the new echographic techniques show less significant short-term effects attributable to the intervention. Improvement of the precision of SRI measurements is needed. A larger study is indicated to fully investigate the expected potentials of TDI and SRI for the assessment of local improvement of heart function early after intervention, as well as for revealing eventual late effects on these functional parameters.     

应变成像评价犬左心室急性心肌缺血边缘区跨壁力学状态

目的 应用应变成像观察犬左室急性心肌缺血边缘区不同层次心肌径向峰值应变及应变达峰时间,评价其跨壁力学特征.方法 9只Beagle犬开胸结扎左冠状动脉前降支建立心肌缺血模型,分别于基础状态、缺血状态采集连续3个心动周期的左室心尖二维短轴观图像存于TDI-Q工作站,在脱机状态下应用软件衍生M型组织多普勒速度图,采样分析基础状态、缺血后边缘区的节段整体、心内膜下心肌、中层心肌及心外膜下心肌(subepicardium,subepi)的径向峰值应变(S)及达峰时间(T).统计数据分析采用两独立样本t检验和配对t检验以及直线相关分析.结果 边缘区心内膜下心肌峰值应变较基础状念值降低(P<0.05),中层心肌峰值应变与基础状态值相比无明显差异(P>0.05),心外膜下心肌峰值应变较基础状态值增高(P<0.05);节段整体达峰时间以及各层次达峰时间延长(P<0.05);同时观察到基础状态心内膜下层心肌及中层心肌分别与其节段整体的峰值应变有较好的相关性(r=0.617,r=0.556,P均<0.01),而梗死边缘区这种相关性消失(r=0.287,r=0.243.P均>0.05).结论 急性心肌缺血后,边缘区呈心内膜下层心肌峰值应变降低、心外膜下层心肌峰值应变增高和各层次达峰时间延长,该跨壁力学状态是缺血区域和非缺血区域不同层次心肌力学机制相互作用的结果.推测此力学状态是决定心室重构进程以及最终向缺血性心肌病演变的重要触发机制之一.     

应变率、射血分数及校正的Q-V峰值间期评价不同构型高血压患者左室收缩功能的比较

目的探讨收缩期应变率与校正的Q-V峰值间期及射血分数的关系及其临床应用价值.方法55例高血压患者(LVN组25例,LVR组30例)和30例健康人,分别测量每例患者各室壁中间段和基底段的平均收缩期应变率,射血分数及校正的Q-V峰值间期.结果收缩期应变率的平均值与校正的Q-V峰值间期及射血分数相关性良好(相关系数分别为r=-0.70和r=-0.86,P＜0.001).收缩期应变率在3组之间均有显著性差异(P值均＜0.05).校正的Q-V峰值间期和射血分数仅在高血压LVR组与其他二组之间有显著性差异(P值均＜o.05).结论应变率成像为临床提供了一个敏感、简便而可靠的评价高血压患者心肌收缩功能的指标.     

构建急性心肌梗死模型犬梗死区的跨壁力学变化

背景：急性心肌梗死起病急,病情凶险,但目前对超急性期的辅助诊断主要靠心电图,实验主要利用组织多普勒应变成像的优点,对急性心肌梗死的早期诊断提供帮助。 目的：应用组织多普勒应变成像技术观测犬急性心肌梗死前、后心内膜下层心肌、中层心肌、心外膜下层心肌径向峰值应变及应变达峰时间,分析其力学变化特征。 方法：16只Beagle犬,开胸结扎左冠状动脉前降支的第一对角支建立急性心肌缺血模型。同步记录心电图,在组织速度成像模式下,分别在急性心肌梗死前、后采集标准心尖短轴切面的连续5个完整心动周期内的二维动态组织多普勒速度图像,存于TDI-Q工作站。分别观测梗死区缺血前、后局部及心内膜下层心肌、中层心肌、心外膜下层心肌径向峰值应变及应变达峰时间。 结果与结论：急性心肌梗死后,梗死区局部以及心内膜下层心肌、中层心肌、心外膜下层心肌的峰值应变较梗死前明显降低（P〈0.05）;梗死区心肌各层次间峰值应变梯度消失;梗死区局部以及各层次心肌达峰时间均较缺血前延长（P〈0.05）。同时观察到梗死区基础状态心内膜下心肌及中层心肌分别与其局部心肌的峰值应变呈正相关（r=0.617,P〈0.01;r=0.556,P〈0.01）,而与梗死区则无相关性（r=0.338,P〉0.05;r=0.218, P 〉0.05）。提示急性心肌梗死后,梗死区不同层次心肌间峰值应变梯度消失,局部及不同层次心肌峰值应变明显减低,而达峰时间明显延长,是梗死区心肌结构异常、功能障碍的反映,从而导致心脏整体运动不协调,引起心脏整体的非同步化运动,是触发心力衰竭的重要力学机制之一。     

Assessment of severity in aortic stenosis-incremental value of endocardial function parameters compared with standard indexes

Several studies have reported that patients (pts) with severe aortic stenosis and similar pressure gradients or even similar aortic valve areas may have quite different symptomatic status and clinical outcomes suggesting that other factors might have a significant impact on the pathophysiology of this disease. Our purpose was to assess the severity of subendocardial wall dysfunction in symptomatic and asymptomatic pts with aortic stenosis using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), strain rate imaging (SRI) and cyclic variation of integrated backscatter (IB). We studied 68 pts with aortic valvar stenosis and 46 subjects with no signs of heart disease. SRI/IB indexes were calculated in the apical four chambers views at endocardial level. Early diastolic endocardial strain rate showed the best correlation with transvalvar pressure gradients and valve areas. Compared with controls, symptomatic pts showed a more marked decrease in endocardial strain, strain rate and cyclic variation of IB. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves suggested that the thresholds offering an adequate compromise between sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of symptoms were >/=60 mm Hg for the pressure gradient, less than 0.60 cm(2)/m(2) for aortic valve area, less than 20% for strain, less than 2.0 s(-1) for strain rate and less than 3.0 dB for cyclic variation. The combination of pressure gradient, aortic valve area and SRI/IB parameters resulted in an improvement of the overall performance for predicting the symptomatic state. Thus, SRI/IB parameters have an incremental value in differentiating symptomatic and asymptomatic pts with aortic stenosis compared with conventional hemodynamic parameters.     

应变率显像对糖尿病患者左室心肌局部收缩及舒张功能的研究

目的应用应变率显像评价糖尿病患者左心室局部心肌纵向收缩和舒张功能。方法分别获取22例糖尿病患者（DM）和21例正常对照者标准心尖位左心长轴观、二腔观和四腔观图像，分析左室各室壁长轴方向基底部、中部心肌应变率曲线，计算各节段应变率及左室中部、基底部水平的舒张早期和心房收缩期的平均应变率。测量左室射血分数（EF％）和二尖瓣口血流的E、A峰值，计算E／A比值。结果与正常对照组比较，DM组左室各节段心肌收缩期应变率和舒张早期应变率均明显降低（P〈0．05），左室大部分节段心房收缩期应变率差异无显著性意义（P〉0．05）。在两组舒张早期和心房收缩期的平均应变率比较中差异具有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。两组间EF％、E、A及E／A差异无显著性意义。结论应变率显像为定量评价糖尿病患者局部心肌舒缩功能提供了一种新方法。     

应变率显像对糖尿病患者左室收缩功能的评价

目的探讨应变率显像(SRI)技术评价糖尿病患者左室收缩功能的临床价值。方法获取33例糖尿病患者和26例正常人心尖左心长轴、二腔和四腔切面应变率曲线,测量左室各节段心肌收缩期峰值应变率和二尖瓣环峰值应变率(SR)。用Simpson法测量左室射血分数(LVEF)。结果与正常组相比,糖尿病组左室各节段心肌的纵向SR均明显降低(P<0.05),瓣环的SR与LVEF呈正相关(r=0.619,P<0.05)。结论SRI为定量评价糖尿病患者左室整体和局部收缩功能提供了无创的新方法。     

应变率成像技术评价原发性高血压飞行员左心房功能的早期改变

目的 探讨应变率成像（SRI）技术评价原发性高血压飞行员早期左心房功能变化的价值。方法 选取左心室正常构型的原发性高血压飞行员25例,以25名健康飞行员为健康对照组,行超声心动图检查并储存图像。于左心室心尖位四腔观、三腔观、二腔观应用SRI获取左心房各壁基底段、中段、上段应变率曲线,分别测量左心室收缩期、舒张早期、舒张晚期左心房峰值应变率（SRs、SRe和SRa）,计算其平均值。应用二维Simpson法计算左心房最大容积（LAVmax）、左心房最小容积（LAVmin）、左心房收缩前容积（LAVp）、左心房被动射血分数（LAPEF）、左心房主动射血分数（LAAEF）和左心房搏出量（LASV）、E/A、E/E′。结果 原发性高血压组LAPEF、LAAEF、LASV、E/A、E/E′分别为（38.96±6.43）%、（61.11±5.86）%、（14.74±5.33）mm、1.23±0.08、8.63±1.77,健康对照组上述指标分别为（34.18±5.72）%、（63.23±6.89）%、（10.12±3.23）mm、1.04±0.26、7.16±0.84,原发性高血压组与健康对照组比较,LAPEF、LAAEF、LASV、E/E′的差异有统计学意义（t=4.840、2.690、4.801、2.950,P均＜0.05）,E/A的差异无统计学意义（t=-1.424,P=0.178）。原发性高血压组患者SRa[（-2.45±0.82）s^-1]与E/E′8.63±1.77呈正相关（r=0.632,P＜0.05）。结论 SRI可用于早期左心房功能的评价,并在高血压病飞行员患者左心室重构发生前检侧出左心房壁形变能力降低。     

应变率成像评价胸部放疗对心脏的早期损伤

目的采用应变率成像(SRI)分析左室壁应变率特点,评价其在胸部放疗对心脏早期损伤方面的应用。方法40例胸部全程放疗患者按照放疗进程分为三组:A组:放疗前1～3天;B组:放疗时间2.5～3周、照射剂量26～30Gy;C组:放疗时间5～6周(放疗结束时)、照射剂量50～60Gy。比较3组常规超声心动图测值及前壁、下壁、前间隔、后壁的基底段及中间段8个位点的收缩期最大应变率(s)、舒张早期最大应变率(e)、房缩期应变率(a),取三个心动周期的平均值。结果C组前壁、前间隔、后壁各节段的s、e较A组明显减低且差异有显著性(P<0.01);B组前壁、前间隔、后壁各节段的s、e较A组略减低但差异无显著性(P>0.05);下壁各节段的s、e在各组之间差异无显著性(P>0.05);C组左室舒张功能(E/A)较A组减低有显著性差异(P<0.01);B组的E/A较A组略减低但无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论应变率成像可定量分析胸部放疗患者心脏的早期损伤。     

Assessment of regional myocardial strain by a novel automated tracking system from digital image files

Myocardial strain imaging by Doppler tissue echocardiography is a useful method to quantify regional left ventricular function. However, this method has a problem of its Doppler angle dependency. We attempted to quantify myocardial strain by a newly developed automated tracking system from digital image files. In 6 anesthetized open-chest dogs, a pair of ultrasonic crystals was implanted at the inner site and outer site of the left ventricular wall to measure myocardial radial strain. B-mode echocardiographic images and trajectories of crystals were recorded simultaneously. Three conditions were examined by intravenous infusion of dobutamine. We used a pattern matching algorithm, which allowed us to track objects from one frame to the next. In 18 image sequences obtained in the 6 dogs, there was an excellent correlation in maximal myocardial strain between the two methods ( r = 0.92, P < .0001). Thus, this system is a promising tool to provide automated quantification of regional myocardial strain.     

Strain dependence of ultrasound speed in bovine articular cartilage under compression in vitro

The change of the ultrasound (US) speed in articular cartilage (artC) under applied strain conditions may induce significant measurement errors of the mechanical properties of the artC during both indentation and compression tests using US. In this paper, the strain dependence of the US speed in bovine artC (n = 20) under compression in vitro was investigated by virtue of using a custom-made US compression testing system. The US speed of the artC at the instant after the compression and that after a period of stress-relaxation were estimated under the applied strain ranging from 0% to 20%. Moreover, the instantaneous modulus and the modulus after the stress-relaxation of the artC were measured and correlated with the US speed. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the US speed at the instant after the compression and that after the stress-relaxation, although there was a discrepancy between the instantaneous modulus and the modulus after stress-relaxation. The US speed was found to be highly correlated to the applied strain (r(2) = 0.98, p < 0.001) in a quadratic relation and changed by 7.8% (from 1581 +/- 36 m/s to 1671 +/- 56 m/s) when the applied strain reached 20%. The results suggest that the strain-dependent effect on the US speed in artC should be considered when the US is deployed for the assessment of artC using the compression or indentation test.     

速度向量成像估测正常儿童心室长轴心肌节段功能的研究

目的 通过速度向量成像（VVI）探索正常儿童左右心室长轴各节段运动的变化规律。方法采集44名健康儿童心尖四腔切面,Syngo Workplace软件测定各节段的速度、应变、应变率和位移,分析VVI参数与年龄之间的关系。结果 ①正常儿童左右心室的速度、应变、应变率和位移从基底段到心尖段依次降低。右室游离壁的速度、位移、应变和应变率明显高于左室游离壁和室间隔的相应节段（P〈0．05）。②左室游离壁基底段和中间段的速度与年龄具有较好的相关性（r=0．436,P〈0．01;r=0．464,P〈0．01）;右室游离壁的各节段速度与年龄无相关性（P〉0．05）。③左右室的游离壁基底段的应变与年龄具有较好的相关性（r=0．478,P〈0．Ol;r：0．497,P〈0．01）;右室游离璧中间段的应变率与年龄有较好的相关性（r=0．520,P〈0．01）。结论应变和应变率受到年龄的影响,因此在估测局部心肌节段功能时应考虑到该影响。     

应变率显像对高血压患者左室舒张功能的评价

目的探讨应变率显像(SRI)技术评价高血压患者左室舒张功能的临床意义.方法获取25例高血压病人和20例正常人二腔观、三腔观和四腔观应变率显像及组织多普勒图像,分析左室各节段心肌舒张期应变率曲线和二尖瓣环运动速度曲线,计算左室各节段应变率(SR)、平均峰值应变率(mSR)、左室平均应变率传播速度(PVS)和二尖瓣环平均运动速度(V).常规测量二尖瓣口E、A、E/A值.结果与正常组相比,高血压组舒张早期V、SR均有明显降低,舒张早期和舒张晚期PVS均降低.舒张早期SR与V呈高度正相关.舒张早期除后间隔基底段和侧壁基底段外其余相应节段心肌SR均有显著降低.结论SRI是一项准确定量评价高血压患者左室整体和局部舒张功能的无创性新技术.     

Respiratory muscle performance as a possible determinant of exercise capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Reduction of exercise capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is associated with skeletal muscle performance. The contribution of respiratory muscle performance is questionable. This pilot study was designed to investigate the relationship between respiratory muscle performance and exercise capacity in ankylosing spondylitis. Subjects were 12 patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Measurements of maximal respiratory pressures and inspiratory muscle endurance were performed and correlated with maximal exercise capacity. Lung function and chest wall expansion were reduced on average. Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures were reduced to 82 +/- 20% of predicted values and 75 +/- 22% of predicted values respectively. On average there was no reduction in inspiratory muscle endurance which remained at 103 +/- 36% of predicted values. No overall reduction was found in maximal exercise capacity, either expressed as maximal workload or as peak oxygen uptake; however, a wide range was found. Maximal workload and peak oxygen uptake correlated significantly with maximal respiratory pressures and respiratory muscle endurance. The best regression model for explaining the total variation of maximal workload and peak oxygen uptake selected maximal inspiratory pressures as the independent variable (r(2) = 59.6%, p = 0.003 and r(2) = 62.5%, p = 0.05 respectively.) These data suggest respiratory pressure and respiratory muscle endurance, in particular maximal inspiratory pressure, may be determinants of exercise capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.     

Resistance to blood flow in ovarian tumors: correlation between resistance index and histological pattern of vascularization.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the histological patterns of vascularization and the resistance index (RI) in ovarian tumors. DESIGN: In a retrospective study, the histological sections of the ovarian tumors with known preoperative RI values were reviewed and the pattern of vascularization was studied. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two women underwent B-mode sonography and color Doppler ultrasound within 3 days prior to explorative laparotomy for ovarian masses in the years 1992-93. METHODS: The RI of the ovarian tumors was calculated as the mean of three consecutive waveforms with the lowest RI. The representative histological sections were evaluated for quantity of arterioles and venules, after staining by Masson trichrome and Elastic Van Gieson. The arteriolar fraction (defined as the number of arterioles divided by the sum of the arterioles plus venules) and the density of vessels (defined as the number of arterioles and venules per microscopic field) were calculated in each histological section and correlated with the preoperative RI values. RESULTS: The mean RI was 0.36 +/- 0.07 for malignant tumors and 0.57 +/- 0.03 for benign tumors. Ovaries with malignancies showed significantly lower arteriolar fraction values (0.30 +/- 0.12) than those with benign tumors (0.56 +/- 0.05) and those with metastatic tumors (0.43 +/- 0.2) (p < 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). The density of vessels was higher in malignant tumors (8.0 +/- 3.8) than in benign lesions (2.7 +/- 1.5) (p < 0.01). RI values showed a strong positive correlation (r = +0.85, p < 0.0005) with the arteriolar fraction and a negative and weaker correlation (r = -0.69, p < 0.001) with the density of vessels. CONCLUSIONS: RI values are predominantly determined by the proportion of arterioles. The correlation between the histological pattern of vascularization and RI values reflects tumor angiogenesis and increases understanding of the advantages and limitations of measuring vascular resistance by color Doppler ultrasound.     

Effects of delapril in combination with indapamide on blood pressure and left ventricular mass in elderly hypertensive patients

We present a single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of the effects on blood pressure and left ventricular mass and of the safety of a combined antihypertensive treatment with delapril, a new nonsulfhydryl angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and indapamide, a sulfonamide diuretic. We studied 28 elderly patients aged 65-85 years (mean age, 69 +/- 1) with sitting systolic/diastolic blood pressure of 160-200/95-115 mm Hg (at the end of the placebo period). After a 2-week placebo run-in, patients took 30 mg delapril in combination with 1.25 mg indapamide once daily for 24 weeks. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure was monitored and M- and B-mode echocardiography were performed before and after 24 weeks of treatment. Blood pressure decreased from 156 +/- 1.5/101 +/- 1 mm Hg before treatment to 133 +/- 1/73 +/- 1 mm Hg after treatment. The total blood pressure burden also decreased; the percentage of measurements with a systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mm Hg decreased from 48.7% +/- 5%/31.5% +/- 4.3% to 23.5% +/- 4%/20.5% +/- 2.9% (p < 0.0005 and p < 0.05). The area under the curve of the 24-hour blood pressure decreased from 250 +/- 41/103 +/- 21 mm Hg to 97 +/- 21/37 +/- 8.5 mm Hg (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005). The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in the 15 patients with pretreatment left ventricular hypertrophy was reduced after therapy from 167.5 +/- 8.5 g/m 2 to 152.2 +/- 7.6 g/m 2 (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between percent changes of the area under the curve of the 24-hour diastolic blood pressure and percent changes of LVMI (r = 0.6; p < 0. 05) in the 15 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Only 2 patients reported side effects: 1 developed skin rash and 1 developed headache. The safety of the treatment was confirmed by laboratory tests. In elderly hypertensive patients, the combination of delapril and indapamide at low doses reduced blood pressure and had favorable effects on LVMI with few side effects.