ROLE OF CARDIAC AND VASCULAR AMPLIFIERS IN THE MAINTENANCE OF HYPERTENSION AND THE EFFECT OF REVERSAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR HYPERTROPHY

Changes in amplifying capacities of the hypertrophied heart and resistance vessels account for the characteristic evolution of haemodynamic patterns in the course of essential hypertension. Reversal of hypertrophy in established essential hypertension requires prolonged control of blood pressure. Redevelopment of hypertension on stopping drug therapy is slowest if there has been reversal of both vascular and cardiac hypertrophy. It may be possible to subsequently maintain normal blood pressure in a proportion of patients by non-pharmacological means following the initial period of drug therapy. Preliminary findings suggest that in a majority of patients the sympathetic nervous system may be overactive, whilst a smaller subset may have dysfunction of volume regulation.