title: Reversibility of left ventricular hypertrophy by differing types of antihypertensive therapy.
abstract: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), as assessed by ECG or echocardiography, is a powerful independent coronary risk factor. The present overview of 104 studies sets out to compare the ability of various forms of antihypertensive therapy to reverse LVH as assessed by echocardiography. Most observations involved four classes of treatment--combination therapy, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and calcium antagonists (mainly dihydropyridines). The former two therapies were significantly more effective than the latter two in reversing LV mass, independently of length of time on treatment and degree of fall in blood pressure. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. The clinical significance of these results is unclear although preliminary data indicate that regressing LVH is associated with fewer cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Department, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cruickshank
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dodd
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents