Experimental studies on myocardial stretch and ventricular arrhythmia in hypertrophied and non-hypertrophied hearts.
Hypertension affects about 5% of western populations and in the majority of cases it is of unknown aetiology. It exposes the heart to greater levels of myocardial stretch as a result of increased systolic pressure and peripheral resistance. Under certain circumstances myocardial stretch may trigger arrhythmias but the mechanisms and clinical importance of this phenomenon are unclear. This article outlines the risks of sudden cardiac death conferred by hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, presents the results of experiments using an animal model of myocardial stretch and discusses some possible mechanisms underlying stretch-induced arrhythmias which may be important in hypertensive patients.
Evans
S J
SJ
Department of Cardiology, Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
Dalton
G R
GR
Levi
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010042:Ouabain / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012433:Ryanodine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013829:Thiadiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011804:Quinolines; D013829:Thiadiazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C070609:EMD 53998; D012433:Ryanodine; D010042:Ouabain; D005682:Gadolinium; D009543:Nifedipine; D007545:Isoproterenol; D002118:Calcium