Masked hypertension and target organ damage in treated hypertensive patients.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have shown that an elevated ambulatory or home blood pressure (BP) in the absence of office BP-a phenomenon called masked hypertension-is associated with poor cardiovascular prognosis. However, it remains to be elucidated how masked hypertension modifies target organ damage in treated hypertensive patients.


METHODS
A total of 332 outpatients with chronically treated essential hypertension were enrolled in the present study. Patients were classified into four groups according to office (<140/90 or >or=140/90 mm Hg) and daytime ambulatory (<135/85 or >or=135/85 mm Hg) BP levels; ie, controlled hypertension (low office and ambulatory BP), white-coat hypertension (high office but low ambulatory BP), masked hypertension (low office but high ambulatory BP), and sustained hypertension (high office and ambulatory BP). Left ventricular mass index, carotid maximal intima-media thickness, and urinary albumin levels were determined in all subjects.


RESULTS
Of the patients, 51 (15%), 65 (20%), 74 (22%), and 142 (43%) were identified as having controlled hypertension, white-coat hypertension, masked hypertension, and sustained hypertension, respectively. Left ventricular mass index, maximal intima-media thickness, and urinary albumin level in masked hypertension were significantly higher than in controlled hypertension and white-coat hypertension, and were similar to those in sustained hypertension. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that the presence of masked hypertension was one of the independent determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy, carotid atherosclerosis, and albuminuria.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that masked hypertension is associated with advanced target organ damage in treated hypertensive patients, comparable to that in cases of sustained hypertension.
Tomiyama
Mari
M
Division of Hypertension and Nephrology, Department of Medicine, National Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan.
Horio
Takeshi
T
Yoshii
Masayoshi
M
Takiuchi
Shin
S
Kamide
Kei
K
Nakamura
Satoko
S
Yoshihara
Fumiki
F
Nakahama
Hajime
H
Inenaga
Takashi
T
Kawano
Yuhei
Y
D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers