Effects of drug therapy on hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy.
To determine the rate and extent of reversal of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, eight patients with moderate to severe essential hypertension (diastolic blood pressure 116 mmHg, s.d. = 8) underwent serial echocardiography during 12 months of closely supervised antihypertensive therapy with multiple drugs. LV cavity size and average wall thickness were measured by sector-directed M-mode echocardiography. LV mass was estimated from a formula which had previously been validated. All subjects had increased LV mass (greater than 125 g/m2). From 6-12 months, 84% of standing diastolic blood pressures, measured monthly, were 90 mmHg or less. During therapy LV mass decreased from 206 g/m2 (s.d. = 98) initially to 168 g/m2 (s.d. = 82) after 6 months (P less than 0.001) with no further significant change by 12 months. In four patients with less severe hypertrophy, LV mass was within the normal range after 6 months of therapy. In four patients with more severe hypertrophy, LV mass remained significantly elevated at 6 and 12 months. Severe hypertensive LV hypertrophy may be only partially reversible, despite good blood pressure control.
Fletcher
P J
PJ
Horvath
J S
JS
Bailey
B P
BP
Tiller
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents