title: [Hypertrophy and function of the left heart ventricle in hypertension].
abstract: Left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension occurs in over 50% of patients. The detection of such high incidence has been facilitated by the introduction of echocardiography into diagnostic studies. Both earlier electrocardiographic findings and later echocardiographic results show that cardiac hypertrophy leads to an increased mortality and predisposes to cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease including myocardial infarction and heart failure. The development of hypertrophy is mediated by hemodynamic factors such as elevated blood pressure due to increased peripheral vascular resistance, ejection fraction, increased cardiac output, blood viscosity, as well as by non-hemodynamic factors. Of the latter ones the contribution of a genetic factor is discussed, whereas the role of para- and autocrine cardiac function manifested by local production and action of catecholamines as well as the renin-angiotensin system has been proved. Blockade of these systems makes possible prevention of the development of cardiac hypertrophy or its regression. Such results have been obtained both in experimental studies and in humans with hypertension treated with selected drugs. Regression of hypertrophy is accompanied by an improvement in systolic and especially diastolic cardiac function, the impairment of which is usually diagnosed prior to the detection of hypertrophy. The improvement in cardiac function and possibility of preventing consequences of hypertrophy help us to evaluate the efficacy of hypotensive drugs and their preferential use in this regard. There are also changes in recently recommended models of pharmacological treatment in arterial hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Kardiologii Akademii Medycznej, Krakowie.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawecka-Jaszcz
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubiel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*
vernacular_title: Przerost i czynność lewej komory serca w nadciśnieniu tetniczym.