Left ventricular hypertrophy and endothelial functions in patients with essential hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we used a non-invasive method in patients with essential hypertension and without any overt clinical evidence of atherosclerosis to investigate the role of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in endothelial functions.


METHODS
We assessed endothelial function in 32 hypertensive patients with LVH (group 1), 28 hypertensive patients without LVH (group 2) and 29 normotensive subjects (control group). Flow-mediated (endothelium-dependent) and nitrate induced (endothelium-independent) dilatation of the brachial artery was evaluated in all groups.


RESULTS
Flow-mediated dilatation was considerably higher in the control group than in group 1 and 2 (13.98 +/- 2.92%, 4.67 +/- 1.09% and 7.02 +/- 1.79% respectively, p < 0.001). In addition, endothelium-dependent dilatation was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.001), whereas nitrate induced changes were similar in all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular endothelial functions are impaired in hypertensive patients. There may be heterogeneity of endothelial dysfunction among patients with hypertension. Presence of LVH has an additional negative effect on endothelial function in hypertensive patients.
Ercan
Ertugrul
E
Central Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Bayrakli-Izmir, Turkey. ertugrulercan@yahoo.com
Tengiz
Istemihan
I
Ercan
H Ekin
HE
Nalbantgil
Istemi
I
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001830:Body Surface Area; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides