Myocardial perfusion in hypertensive patients with normal coronary angiograms.
BACKGROUND
Pressure-induced left ventricular hypertrophy is one of the mechanisms responsible for an impaired coronary vasodilating capacity leading to myocardial ischemia and angina. The aim of the study was to investigate myocardial perfusion using cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with arterial hypertension and a history of chest pain and normal coronary angiography, and to estimate the influence of left ventricular hypertrophy on the parameters of myocardial perfusion.


METHODS
The study included 102 patients (mean age 55.4 +/- 7.7 years) with well controlled hypertension and 12 healthy volunteers. In 96 patients, myocardial first-pass perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance both at rest and during an infusion of adenosine 140 microg/kg/min was performed. Semiquantitative perfusion analysis was performed by using the upslope of myocardial signal enhancement to derive the myocardial perfusion index and the myocardial perfusion reserve index. The study group was divided according to the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy in the cardiovascular magnetic resonance examination: group with left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 40) and without left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 56).


RESULTS
Independent of the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, there were significant differences in baseline myocardial perfusion index between hypertensive patients and controls (0.13 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.01; P < 0.001), and in stress myocardial perfusion index (hypertensive patients 0.21 +/- 0.10 vs. controls 0.09 +/- 0.03; P < 0.001). In hypertensive patients, the myocardial perfusion reserve index was reduced in the mid and apical portions of the left ventricle (1.71 +/- 1.1 vs. 2.52 +/- 0.83; P < 0.02). There was no significant correlation of myocardial perfusion reserve index with left ventricular mass or hypertrophy.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with mild or moderate hypertension and a history of chest pain with normal coronary angiography, there is regional myocardial perfusion reserve impairment that is independent of the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy and may be a reason for angina.
Kawecka-Jaszcz
Kalina
K
I Department of Cardiology and Hypertension, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Czarnecka
Danuta
D
Olszanecka
Agnieszka
A
Klecha
Artur
A
Kwiecień-Sobstel
Agnieszka
A
Stolarz-Skrzypek
Katarzyna
K
Pennell
Dudley J
DJ
Pasowicz
Mieczysław
M
Klimeczek
Piotr
P
Banyś
Robert P
RP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology