[Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients. Ultrasonic and physiopathology: therapeutic implications].
Hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy can easily be diagnosed by echocardiography. It occurs in 30-50 per cent of hypertensive patients and has recently been shown to be a potent and independent predictor of morbidity and mortality, increasing the risk of sudden death, arrhythmia and severe coronary events. The condition usually presents as concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with symmetrically or asymmetrically thickened ventricular walls, but it may also be found with a dilated cavity. Its presence is a definite indication for active medical treatment. Guidelines for the choice of a particular antihypertensive drug are not yet available. Regression of the hypertrophy seems to be a rational goal of the treatment, but the beneficial effects of such a regression on left ventricular relaxation need further evaluation.
Herpin
D
D
Service de Cardiologie B, Centre hospitalier universitaire, Poitiers.
Raynier
P
P
Ciber
M
M
Amiel
A
A
Boutaud
P
P
Demange
J
J
D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*
L'hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche de l'hypertendu. Aspects échographiques et physiopathologiques: implications thérapeutiques.