Cardiac arrhythmias and left ventricular hypertrophy in dipper and nondipper patients with essential hypertension

To evaluate the behavior of cardiac arrhythmias in dipper and nondipper hypertensive patients, 48-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 24-h Holter electrocardiogram recording and echocardiographic studies were performed in 56 untreated outpatients with essential hypertension. These patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence (dipper, n=33) or absence (nondipper, n=23) of reduction of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure during nighttime by an average of more than 10% of daytime blood pressure. Mean 48-h systolic and diastolic blood pressures did not differ between the 2 groups. Nondipper patients had a significantly larger left atrial dimension (31.9+/-3.8 vs 35.6+/-3.7 mm; p<0.01), left ventricular mass index (114+/-26 vs 136+/-36 g/m2; p<0.05), as well as a larger number of total supraventricular (16+/-19 vs 89+/-197 beats; p<0.05) and ventricular ectopic beats (7+/-14 vs 47+/-96 beats; p<0.05) during daytime as compared with dippers. In conclusion, nondipper hypertensive patients are likely to experience supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias more frequently than dippers. A blunted nocturnal blood pressure fall may be involved in the appearance of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with essential hypertension.     

Ventricular arrhythmias and left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension

BACKGROUND: Patients with essential hypertension and/or left ventricular hypertrophy and ventricular arrhythmias suffer from an increased mortality rate. In all previous studies on hypertension, the criterion for inclusion was diastolic blood pressure > 95 mmHg. This is a low selective threshold. Our study attempted to evaluate the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia in hypertensive patients not receiving pharmacological treatment and diagnosed by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), therefore using a more selective criterion than WHO guidelines. METHODS: Hundred-twenty-height consecutive patients with hypertension diagnosed on the basis of WHO guidelines were screened for 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement. Eighty-five (66.4%) presented a 24-h mean blood pressure > 135/85 mmHg. All 85 patients were screened for M-mode, B-mode echocardiography, PW Doppler and 24-h ECG Holter recordings. RESULTS: Sixty patients (70.6%) were affected by left ventricular hypertrophy and 25 were free (29.4%). Thirty-six patients (42.4%) had left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, 49 were free (57.6%). According to Lown and Wolf's classification of ventricular arrhythmia, 20 patients (23.5%) presented Grade I arrhythmia, 5 (5.9%) presented Grade II, 4 (4.7%) Grade III, 9 (10.6%) Grade IVA, 20 (23.5%) Grade IVB, 12 (14.1%) Grade V and 15 patients (17.6%) were free from premature ventricular complexes, namely Grade 0 arrhythmia. Left ventricular hypertrophy was found to correlate significantly with the arrhythmia score, r = 0.552 for p < 0.0001. Moreover, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction correlated significantly with the arrhythmia score, r = 0.495 for p < 0.0001. There was also a good correlation between left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, r = 0.616 for p < 0.0001. Among patients affected by left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy, the correlation with the arrhythmia score was even closer, r = 0.586 for p < 0.0007. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that by using a more selective criterion for the diagnosis of hypertension, we can identify patients with a highly significant statistical correlation between left ventricular hypertrophy and ventricular arrhythmia score, and also between diastolic dysfunction and the ventricular arrhythmia score, due to a more severe stage of disease. It is useful to detect those patients affected by ventricular arrhythmias for the primary prevention of major cardiovascular events.     

Hypertrophic myocardiopathy (II). 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring and its relation to the echocardiographic characteristics

Seventy-two patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were evaluated by 24 hours of electrocardiographic ambulatory monitoring. The results were related to echocardiographic extent of hypertrophy, left ventricular outflow obstruction at rest, and transmitral flow parameters. Also, the symptoms and functional classification of NYHA were related to ventricular arrhythmias. Ventricular arrhythmias were detected in 68% of our patients: high degree of ventricular ectopia in 26 (36.1%), and ventricular tachycardia in 14 (19.4%). Most important supraventricular arrhythmias were: atrial fibrillation in 7 patients, atrial flutter in one, and supraventricular tachycardia in five. Asymmetric hypertrophy type I of Maron classification showed the lower number of ventricular arrhythmias. High degree of ventricular arrhythmias were more frequent in patients with: apical hypertrophy, worse functional classification of NYHA (I: 20%; II: 50%; III: 80%), and in patients with impaired distensibility detected by Doppler (80.7% vs 56.7%; p less than 0.05). There was no relationship between left ventricular outflow obstruction at rest and ventricular arrhythmias.     

Noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in patients with recently detected systemic hypertension

Noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and Doppler echocardiography were used in a recent study evaluating persons aged 18 to 50 years who were initially found to have mild hypertension by casual blood pressure determination. Ambulatory blood pressure recordings were performed on a day of usual activity in 54 subjects; a subgroup of 24 patients had evaluation of left ventricular dimensions and diastolic filling patterns by Doppler echocardiography. Average ambulatory systolic pressures of 42% of subjects were greater than or equal to 130 mm Hg. Only 35% had average diastolic pressures greater than or equal to 85 mm Hg, and 57% had either systolic or diastolic pressures greater than or equal to 130/85 mm Hg. Correlation between casual and ambulatory pressures was not significant. No subject had left ventricular hypertrophy determined by echocardiography. Abnormal left ventricular diastolic filling was noted in 38% of those patients with average ambulatory pressures greater than or equal to 130/85 mm Hg, but in no patients with average pressures less than 130/85 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring may be a specific method for detecting those patients with mild hypertension who may have early and potentially reversible cardiac abnormalities.     

The relationship of arrhythmias and conduction disturbances to other manifestations of cardiopulmonary disease in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS)

Disorders of rhythm and conduction are characteristic of the cardiac involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), but their over-all frequency in PSS is not well established. Therefore, 46 ambulatory patients with PSS underwent several tests of cardiopulmonary function, including a 24-hour continuous electrocardiogram (Holter monitor). Conduction disturbances (sinus node dysfunction, first-degree heart block, pre-excitation), supraventricular arrhythmias (supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, premature contractions of atrial or junctional origin) and ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia, multifocal premature contractions) were observed on Holter monitoring in 26 subjects. Although these arrhythmias and conduction disorders were predictably observed in patients who complained of palpitations or syncope, or who had an electrocardiogram which showed first-degree heart block, ventricular bigeminy, left anterior superior hemiblock, prolonged p wave, right or left axis deviation, right or left ventricular hypertropy, pathologic Q waves or low voltage, they were often found in patients who lacked other clinical evidences of heart disease. Arrhythmias and conduction disturbances were not significantly more frequent among patients with cardiomegaly or interstitial change on chest roentgenogram nor were they related to the presence or severity of abnormal lung function. This study suggests that Holter monitoring may be a valuable adjunct in evaluating heart disease in PSS.     

Prevalence and determinants of left ventricular diastolic filling abnormalities in an unselected hypertensive population

The independent contribution of age, sex, duration of hypertension, heart rate, clinic and ambulatory blood pressure and echocardiographic left ventricular mass to left ventricular diastolic filling abnormalities in essential hypertension was investigated in 250 subjects (145 untreated and unselected hypertensives and 105 healthy normotensive controls) undergoing Doppler and standard echocardiography and non-invasive 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Late and early diastolic transmitral peak flow velocities and their ratio (all P less than 0.01), the rate of deceleration of early diastolic mitral flow (P less than 0.01) and the time of deceleration of early diastolic mitral flow (P = 0.018) were abnormal in the hypertensive group vs controls. None of these parameters significantly varied in the presence vs absence of LV hypertrophy. In the hypertensive group, the prevalence of abnormal age-corrected Doppler values varied up to 46% (up to 45.4% and 50% in the absence and presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, respectively; P = n.s.). In a stepwise multivariate regression analysis, age and average daytime or night-time ambulatory blood pressure showed a significant independent relationship with each of these Doppler indexes of left ventricular diastolic filling. Late transmitral peak flow velocity and the ratio of late to early peak flow velocity were also independently affected by the heart rate. Sex, duration of hypertension, clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressure and left ventricular mass index did not show any independent relationship to these Doppler parameters of left ventricular filling. In conclusion, Doppler abnormalities of diastolic transmitral blood flow were detected in up to 46% of patients in an unselected hypertensive population with a low prevalence (14.5%) of left ventricular hypertrophy. Age and ambulatory blood pressure, but not sex, duration of hypertension, clinic blood pressure and left ventricular mass itself, were the major independent determinants of these abnormalities.     

Usefulness of B-type natriuretic peptide in hypertensive patients with exertional dyspnea and normal left ventricular ejection fraction and correlation with new echocardiographic indexes of systolic and diastolic function

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels increase in systolic heart failure (HF). However, the value of BNP in hypertensive patients with suspected diastolic HF (symptoms suggestive of HF but normal ejection fraction) and its relation to myocardial function in these patients is unclear. We prospectively studied 72 ambulatory hypertensive subjects (40 women, mean age 58 ± 8 years) with exertional dyspnea and ejection fraction ≥50%. Diastolic function was evaluated with transmitral and pulmonary venous Doppler, mitral annular velocities (pulsed-wave tissue Doppler), and flow propagation velocity (color M-mode). Systolic function was assessed with strain and strain rate derived from color tissue Doppler imaging. BNP was related to myocardial function and the presence or absence of global diastolic dysfunction. By conventional Doppler criteria, 34 patients had normal left ventricular diastolic function and 38 had isolated diastolic dysfunction. BNP values were higher in patients with diastolic dysfunction (46 ± 48 vs 20 ± 20 pg/ml, P = 0.004) and were related independently to blood pressure, systolic strain rate, left atrial function (p <0.01 for all), and age (p = 0.015). Patients with diastolic dysfunction and pseudonormal filling had higher BNP levels compared with impaired relaxation (89 ± 47 vs 35 ± 42 pg/ml, P = 0.001). However, 79% of patients with diastolic dysfunction had BNP levels within the normal range. We conclude that in ambulatory hypertensive patients with symptoms suggestive of mild HF and normal ejection fraction, BNP is related to atrial and ventricular systolic parameters, blood pressure, and age. Although elevated in the presence of diastolic dysfunction, the BNP level mostly is in the normal range and, therefore, has limited diagnostic value in stable patients with suspected diastolic HF.     

原发性高血压左心室不同构型民律失常的比较

目的 研究原发性高血压患者左心室重构不同构型间心律失常的差异。方法 179例原发性高血压患者均进行了24h动态心电图，动态血压监测，超声心动图等检查，根据检查结果划分左心室构型，判定心律失常，比较左心室重构组与正常构型组心律失常的发生率；通过多元逐步回归分析，甄选出对心律失常有独立影响的因素。并在校正这些影响因素后，比较左心室不同构型间心律失常严重程度的差异。结果 左心室重构组的房性心律失常，室性心律失常，复杂室性心律失常的发生率均显著高于正常构型组，而影响原发性高血压心律失常的相对独立因素很多，其中部分左心室解剖结构指标，高血压分级，左心房内径，E/A值，夜间舒张压负荷值以及日平均心率等占重要地位；校正上述影响因素后，不同构型两两比较时，部分构型之间心律失常分级级别仍存在差异，且差异为构型本知差异所致。结论 原发性高血压心律失常的影响因素很多（例如高血压分级、左心室重量指数，左心房内径，左心室后壁厚度等），不同构型间心律失常的严重程度存在差异。     

Factors correlated with left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor in hypertensive patient. THE AIM: Of our study is to evaluate prospectively the relationship between left ventricular mass and clinical, echocardiographical and ambulatory blood pressure data in hypertensive subjects. METHODS: We studied 88 hypertensive patient who underwent clinical and laboratory investigation, echocardiography and 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Correlations were made between these data and left ventricular mass. RESULTS: Clinical data, which correlated well with left ventricular mass, were duration of hypertension, systolic arterial pressure and pulse arterial pressure. In echocardiography left atrial area and left ventricular dysfunction correlated significatively with left ventricular mass. Data from 24 hours blood pressure monitoring as daytime systolic pressure, nighttimes diastolic pressure, ambulatory systolic pressure and ambulatory pulse pressure. CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patient, left ventricular mass correlated well with left atrial dilation and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction. It also correlated with 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data.     

Left ventricular filling in treated essential hypertension. A study using Doppler echocardiography

The first stigmata of left ventricular involvement in hypertension are changes in diastolic filling. Early detection of these abnormalities is important as some antihypertensive agents may have beneficial effects on left ventricular distensibility and filling, in addition to lowering the blood pressure. This study compares parameters of left ventricular filling recorded by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 44 treated hypertensives (average blood pressure: 157 +/- 20/93 +/- 12 mmHg) without any other coronary risk factors with 33 age-matched (52 +/- 13 years and 48 +/- 13 years) control normotensive subjects (average blood pressure: 130 +/- 11/80 +/- 7 mmHg). The main findings were an increase of the peak. A wave velocity after atrial contraction and of the A/E ratio in the hypertensive group (66 +/- 16 cm/s vs 53 +/- 14 cm/s, p less than 0.05 and 0.99 +/- 0.34 vs 0.78 +/- 0.24, p less than 0.05, respectively). These changes were more pronounced in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. The rapid filling phase was unchanged (maximum E wave velocity = 68 +/- 18 cm/s vs 70 +/- 14 cm/s). The influence of age on peak A wave velocity and A/E ratio was obvious in control subjects and hypertensives without left ventricular hypertrophy r = 0.80; p less than 0.05). The age factor was not significant in the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (r = 0.18). A weak linear correlation was observed between the peak A wave velocity, diastolic septal thickness (r = 0.44; p = 0.04) and left ventricular mass (r = 0.44; p = 0.05) in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.     

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and echocardiographic left ventricular wall thickness and mass

In a highly select group of stable hypertensive patients, we have assessed the strength of association between various blood pressure measurements (24 h average automated ambulatory blood pressure, 4 h automated ambulatory morning average blood pressure, multiple office visit average blood pressure, and a single office visit average blood pressure) and various echocardiographic indices of hypertensive cardiac target organ damage (left atrial diameter, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, posterior wall thickness, combined wall thickness, relative wall thickness, left ventricular mass and mass index, and combined wall thickness/left ventricular diastolic diameter ratio). These data demonstrated that a single 24 h average diastolic blood pressure by automatic noninvasive ambulatory monitoring was a significantly better predictor of echocardiographic posterior wall thickness, combined wall thickness or relative wall thickness than the multiple office or single office average diastolic blood pressure. Also there were highly significant correlations between both 24 h average systolic and diastolic blood pressure and these echocardiographic parameters (in descending order of correlation coefficient): combined wall thickness, posterior wall thickness, combined wall thickness/left ventricular diastolic diameter, left ventricular mass index, relative wall thickness, and left ventricular mass. Left ventricular end diastolic dimension did not linearly correlate with any systolic or diastolic blood pressure measurement. Left atrial dimension demonstrated only a significant association with 24 h average diastolic blood pressure. Single office average blood pressure did not linearly correlate with any echocardiographic parameter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Severity of arrhythmias and extent of hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

To evaluate the relationship between the extent of left ventricular hypertrophy and ventricular or atrial arrhythmias, 77 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy underwent two-dimensional echocardiography and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Antiarrhythmic treatment was discontinued before the study. Hypertrophy was septal in 33 patients, "extensive" (i.e., involving the septum and free wall) in 38 patients, and predominantly apical in six patients. Lown grade I and II ventricular arrhythmias were detected in 37% of patients, grade III in 21%, and grade IV in 29%. Atrial extrasystoles were seen in 52% of patients and chronic atrial fibrillation in 13%. More serious ventricular arrhythmias (Lown grades III and IV) occurred significantly more frequently in patients with extensive than in those with only septal hypertrophy (22/38 vs 11/33; p less than 0.001); similarly, chronic atrial fibrillation occurred more commonly in those with extensive hypertrophy (9/38 vs 1/33; p less than 0.01). During a mean follow-up period of 2.6 years, three patients died. All had a pattern of extensive hypertrophy. Two of them had ventricular tachycardia and the third had chronic atrial fibrillation. Results of this study suggest that an echocardiographic finding of extensive hypertrophy represents a useful marker for detecting patients at increased risk for serious ventricular and atrial arrhythmias.     

Arrhythmia behavior and sudden heart death in isolated stenoses or obstructions of the anterior interventricular branch

The incidence and pattern of ventricular arrhythmias recorded with 24 h ambulatory monitoring were studied in 144 patients with angiographically documented stenoses (greater than or equal to 75%) or occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and were related to left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. Ambulatory monitoring was performed at the time of coronary angiography and mean follow-up ranged from less than 1 to 5.4 with a mean of 3.3 years. The incidence of sudden cardiac death (within 1 h after onset of symptoms) was significantly higher in patients with LAD occlusion than in patients with LAD obstructions (14/79, 17.7% versus 2/65, 3.1%); (p less than 0.05). One hundred and twenty-two patients had anterior myocardial infarctions documented with ECG and LV-angiograms. The incidence and size of infarctions were comparable in patients with LAD stenoses and LAD occlusions. There was no difference in wall motion abnormalities, LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and ejection fraction in both groups. The majority of patients in both groups showed complex ventricular arrhythmias of Lown classification IV during Holter monitoring. The incidence of sudden cardiac death in patients with ventricular arrhythmias of Lown class IV was significantly higher in patients with LAD occlusions than in patients with LAD stenoses (9/40, 22.5% versus 1/31, 3.2%); (p less than 0.05). Quantitative evaluation of the arrhythmias showed that there was no difference between patients with LAD occlusions and LAD stenoses so far as single PVC's is concerned, yet complex ventricular arrhythmias (pairs and/or salvos) were found significantly more often in patients with LAD occlusions than with LAD stenoses (means 9.8 versus 6.3); (p less than 0.05). We conclude therefore that complete occlusion of the LAD is accompanied by more complex ventricular arrhythmias and bears a higher risk for sudden cardiac death than mere LAD stenoses although both groups of patients have the same left ventricular wall motion abnormalities.     

组织多普勒成像评价血压昼夜节律变异对左心室舒张功能的影响

目的探讨血压昼夜节律变异对左心室舒张功能的影响。方法31例非杓型高血压患者(非杓型组)和31例年龄、性别相匹配的杓型高血压患者(杓型组)入选。两组患者均行24 h动态血压监测和组织多普勒成像(DTI)检查。结果两组日间平均收缩压和平均舒张压无显著性差异,非杓型组的夜间平均收缩压和平均舒张压均显著高于杓型组[(145.1±34.5)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)vs(127.9±18.1)mm Hg,(94.2±38.1)mm Hgvs(78.5±18.2)mm Hg,P<0.05]。心脏超声检查显示两组在心腔内径、室壁厚度和左心室射血分数等参数无显著性差异,DTI结果显示非杓型组的平均组织舒张早期速度(MEa)、MEa/平均组织舒张晚期速度(MAa)显著低于杓型组[(5.9±2.1)cm/svs(7.8±3.1)cm/s,(0.68±0.56)cm/svs(0.95±0.39)cm/s,P<0.05和P<0.01)];非杓型组的MAa较杓型组明显升高[(9.5±2.8)cm/svs(8.6±1.7)cm/s,P<0.01]。结论血压昼夜节律变异可加重左心室舒张功能受损。对于存在血压昼夜节律变异的高血压患者应尽早诊断,积极治疗和加强随访。     

转换酶抑制剂对左心室肥厚的逆转效应观察

目的 探讨转换酶掏剂对高血压左心室肥厚的逆转效应，观察自主神经功能变化对高血压预后的影响。方法 应用Ｈｏｌｔｅｒ与动态血压观察患者口服苯娜普利疗程结束后的心率与血压变化，并作治疗前后的对照。结果 苯那普利治疗前后的左室重量（ＬＶＭ）有明显降低Ｐ〈０．０５，心率变异性提高，动态血压均值降主律失常心肌缺血发生率降低（Ｐ〈０．０５）。结论 转换酶抑制剂可以逆转左室肥厚，改善心脏自主神经功能，减少心律失常     

What is the role of silent coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmias in men with essential hypertension?

Ventricular arrhythmias are not uncommon in patients with hypertension, are often attributed to left ventricular hypertrophy and are thought to be associated with an increased risk of sudden death. However, underlying silent coronary artery disease, another potential cause of ventricular arrhythmias, is often present in the same patient group. Therefore, the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias was prospectively examined in 183 consecutive asymptomatic men with hypertension with neither clinical nor electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of coronary artery disease in whom technically adequate echocardiograms could be obtained. After previous therapy had been withdrawn for greater than or equal to 4 days, each patient underwent exercise or dipyridamole thallium-201 scintigraphy, 48-h Holter ambulatory ECG monitoring and echocardiography for measurement of the left ventricular mass index. Forty patients (22%) had frequent ventricular ectopic activity, defined on the basis of greater than 10 premature ventricular complexes/h (38 patients) or ventricular tachycardia (11 patients), or both. A higher proportion of patients with than without a reversible thallium-201 defect had frequent premature ventricular complexes (33% vs. 18%, p less than 0.02) or ventricular tachycardia (14% vs. 4%, p less than 0.02). Similarly, more patients with than without left ventricular hypertrophy (defined as left ventricular mass index greater than or equal to 134 g/m2) had frequent premature ventricular complexes (29% vs. 15%, p less than 0.05) and ventricular tachycardia (12% vs. 2%, p less than 0.01). By stepwise logistic regression analysis, both findings were independent predictors of ventricular arrhythmia, which was present in 53% of patients with both abnormalities, but in only 12% of those with neither abnormality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Increased circulating atrial natriuretic factor concentrations in patients with chronic heart failure after inhibition of neutral endopeptidase: effects on diastolic function.

OBJECTIVE--+/- Candoxatrilat was used to raise atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) concentrations in patients with heart failure, and the effects on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function were studied to determine the contribution of peripheral and central mechanisms to the haemodynamic effects. DESIGN--This was a single blind, randomised comparison of +/- candoxatrilat and placebo in patients with mild heart failure. All patients received two intravenous doses of +/- candoxatrilat and two placebo doses on four consecutive days. SETTING--A teaching hospital department of cardiology. PATIENTS--Six men (mean age 52 years) with mild heart failure (New York Heart Association class II) due to ischaemic heart disease (four patients) or dilated cardiomyopathy (two patients) were included. Mean ejection fraction was 37.5% and mean peak oxygen consumption was 20.4 ml/min/kg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Plasma ANF concentrations, haemodynamic indices and left ventricular diastolic function measured by early to atrial filling rate (E:A ratio) with Doppler echocardiography were determined before and after +/- candoxatrilat and placebo. RESULTS--+/- Candoxatrilat caused a threefold rise of plasma ANF compared with placebo (p < 0.005), but there was no significant change in heart rate, blood pressure, or cardiac output. Mean right atrial pressure fell from 6.7 to 4.7 mmHg (NS) and pulmonary artery wedge pressure fell from 9.2 to 6.7 mmHg (p < 0.05). Doppler echocardiographic measurements of transmitral blood flow showed a significant fall in peak early left ventricular filling velocity from 39.5 to 34.2 cm/s (p < 0.05), along with a non-significant rise in peak atrial filling velocity from 39.7-41.6 cm/s after +/- candoxatrilat. The E:A ratio, a Doppler index of left ventricular diastolic function, fell from a mean of 1.04 to 0.87 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS--+/- Candoxatrilat increased plasma ANF concentrations and reduced right atrial and pulmonary artery wedge pressures. No evidence of an improvement in left ventricular systolic or diastolic function was found, so the fall in preload was due to peripheral effects, either an increase in venous capacitance or a fall in circulating blood volume.     

Is there an association of atrial septal aneurysm with arrhythmias?

An association of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) with cardiac arrhythmias has been described, and it has been suggested that undulating movements of the aneurysm initiate these arrhythmias, thereby causing arterial embolism. In this prospective study, all available electrocardiograms were reviewed and Holter monitoring was performed in 50 consecutive patients with echocardiographic diagnosis of ASA in order to assess the relationship between the occurrence of arrhythmias, morphologic characteristics of ASA and arterial embolism. Significant arrhythmias were identified in 26 (52%) patients (supraventricular n = 15, ventricular n = 6, both n= 5). Patients with arrhythmias were older (65 +/- 12 vs. 54 +/- 13 years, p = 0.005), frequently had palpitations (21/26 vs. 1/24, p < 0.0001) and an abnormal resting electrocardiogram (18/26 vs. 5/24, p < 0.001). By echocardiography, patients with arrhythmias had a larger left atrial (42.8 +/- 7.4 vs. 35.3 +/- 4.6 mm, p < 0.0001) and left ventricular enddiastolic diameter (53.8 +/- 5.6 vs. 49.7 +/- 4.1, p < 0.01) and a higher prevalence of associated mitral valve prolapse (12/26 vs. 4/24, p = 0.05). Potential cardiovascular causes for arrhythmia other than ASA were present in the great majority of patients with documented arrhythmias (24/26 vs. 7/24, p < 0.0001). The base diameter of ASA was larger in patients with arrhythmias (25.5 +/- 6.2 vs. 21.4 +/- 3.4, p < 0.01) and correlated with a larger left atrial diameter (r = 0.72, p < 0.0001). Concerning the mobility of ASA (maximal protrusion or phasic excursion), there was no significant difference between the two patient groups. Arterial embolism, however, predominantly occurred in ASA patients without arrhythmias (16/24 vs. 9/26, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the majority of patients with ASA and arrhythmias has underlying structural heart disease other than ASA which may be responsible for the arrhythmias observed. Arrhythmias in association with ASA do not play a major role as a mechanism for arterial embolism.     

替米沙坦对老年高血压患者血压晨峰与心脏重构的影响

目的：探讨替米沙坦对老年高血压患者血压晨峰现象及心脏重构的影响。方法：120例老年高血压患者根据血压晨峰是否超过23.58mmHg分为晨峰组（60例）与非晨峰组（60例）,均予以替米沙坦80～160mg/d治疗6月,治疗前后行动态血压、心脏超声检查。结果：与血压非晨峰组比较,晨峰组左室肥厚发生率（36.7%比51.6%）、左房内径扩大率（26.7%比41.7%）明显升高（P均〈0.01）;与治疗前比较,晨峰组经替米沙坦治疗6月后收缩压（SBP）差值[（32.7±4.2）mmHg比（21.2±6.7）mmHg]、舒张压（DBP）差值[（20.3±3.6）mmHg比（13.5±7.4）mmHg]明显降低（P〈0.01）,而非晨峰组SBP、DBP差值较治疗前无明显降低（P〉0.05）,两组替米沙坦治疗6月后左室重量指数均明显降低（P〈0.05）。结论：老年高血压患者血压晨峰程度与心脏重构密切相关,替米沙坦能有效控制老年高血压患者晨峰现象,逆转左室肥厚。     

Correlations between blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, and left ventricular diastolic function in hypertensive patients]

We examined the relationship of hypertension to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular diastolic function by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring device and echocardiography. We studied 36 untreated hypertensive non-diabetic patients (16 males and 20 females) whose casual systolic blood pressure (CSBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (CDBP) were higher than 140 mmHg and 90 mmHg, respectively. All patients were less than 65 years of age without organic heart disease. Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures (RSBP, RDBP) were measured after lying in a supine position for 30 min by the auscultatory method. Ambulatory blood pressure was measured every 30 or 60 min for 24 hours by Colin ABPM 630, and the mean 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressures (ASBP, ADBP) and the systolic and diastolic hyperbaric indices (SHI, DHI) were obtained. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was obtained as an indicator of LVH by M-mode echocardiography. The ratio of peak velocity of mitral inflow caused by atrial contraction to that of rapid inflow (A/R) was obtained as an indicator of the LV diastolic function by Doppler echocardiography. The coefficients of correlation between BP and the LVMI, and the A/R were determined. There were significant positive correlations between the LVMI and ASBP (r = 0.51, p < 0.005), the SHI (r = 0.49, p < 0.005), CSBP (r = 0.47, p < 0.01) and RSBP (r = 0.41, p < 0.05), however, there were no significant correlations between the LVMI and ADBP, the DHI, CDBP, RDBP and age. There were significant positive correlations between the A/R and ADBP (r = 0.44, p < 0.01), age (r = 0.40, p < 0.02), CSBP (r = 0.38, p < 0.05) and RDBP (r = 0.38, p < 0.05), however, no significant correlations between the A/R and ASBP, the SHI, DHI, RSBP and CDBP. Only a weak correlation was observed in all subjects between the LVMI and A/R, which was slightly improved by use of > 90 mmHg CSBP readings (r = 0.32). It was concluded that LVH is related mainly to continuous systolic hypertension, and that LV diastolic dysfunction is related mainly to continuous diastolic hypertension. Therefore, it was suggested that LVH and LV diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients are caused by different mechanisms.