Systolic and diastolic flow abnormalities in elderly patients with hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Seventeen patients with clinical and echocardiographic features of hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy of the elderly were studied to more completely characterize left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in this group. Measurements of left ventricular structure and systolic and diastolic function were made in the study patients and compared with those of age-matched control subjects. The study group had significantly greater left ventricular mass, wall thickness, shortening fraction and relative wall thickness than did the control subjects. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was smaller and left atrial size was not different in study patients compared with control subjects. Left ventricular filling was characterized by an increased peak atrial velocity and reduced ratio of peak early to peak atrial velocity in the study group. Left ventricular outflow velocities were elevated in 14 of the 17 study patients with peak velocities ranging from 1.2 to 5.0 m/s corresponding to a peak intraventricular gradient of 16 to 100 mm Hg. The velocity waveforms in these patients were late-peaking, similar to those described in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The elevated velocities were localized to the left ventricular outflow tract. These findings imply a pathophysiologic state in these elderly patients with long-standing hypertension, very similar to that in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, and provide further support for the use of pharmacologic agents with negative inotropic properties or positive lusitropic properties in this group.
Pearson
A C
AC
Department of Internal Medicine, St. Louis University Medical Center, Missouri.
Gudipati
C V
CV
Labovitz
A J
AJ
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012212:Rheology; D013577:Syndrome; D013599:Systole