Left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in alcohol-associated hypertension.
In order to assess left ventricular structure and diastolic function, 50 hypertensive male subjects, 25 with and 25 without a history of alcohol abuse, and 20 normotensive male controls underwent Doppler echocardiographic examination followed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for 24 hours. Left ventricular mass was significantly higher in alcoholic hypertensives in relation to non-alcoholic hypertensives (p < 0.05) and normotensive controls (p < 0.001). Moreover, Doppler parameters expressing left ventricular filling pattern were significantly worse in alcoholic than in non-alcoholic hypertensives (p < 0.01). Clinic and ambulatory blood pressure were similar in alcoholic and non-alcoholic hypertensives, while mean day-time heart rate was significantly higher in alcoholics (p < 0.01). Collected data suggest that non-hemodynamic factors are probably involved in the development of cardiovascular abnormalities in hypertensive alcoholics, and that echocardiography should be employed for risk-profile definition in alcohol-associated hypertension.
Melina
D
D
Istituto di Patologia Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma.
Colivicchi
F
F
Melina
G
G
Pristipino
C
C
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged