How should we assess diastolic function in hypertension?
OBJECTIVE
the aim of our study was to assess the relative merits of three indices of diastolic LV function in a group of patients with hypertension and normal systolic function and a group of healthy controls.


METHODS
In this echocardiographic study, diastolic LV function was assessed by E/A ratio using pulsed Doppler recording and by atrial to total mitral annulus motion (AC) and maximal longitudinal LV relaxation velocity (RVm) by M-mode recordings from apical views. The study took place in the Department of Clinical Physiology in a secondary referral centre. Nineteen consecutive patients with uncomplicated hypertension referred to echocardiographic examination and 20 age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study.


RESULTS
All three measures of diastolic function, E/A ratio, AC and RVm indicated impaired diastolic function in the hypertensive group, compared to the healthy controls. However, E/A ratio and AC showed a considerable overlap between the groups, whereas there was a highly significant difference in RVm between the hypertensive group and the controls, with much less of an overlap.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that of these three indices of diastolic function, RVm may be the most appropriate in patients with hypertension and normal systolic LV function.
Bojö
L
L
Department of Clinical Physiology, Central Hospital, Karlstad, Sweden.
Wandt
B
B
Haaga
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents