title: [Evaluation of myocardial function in the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy in athletes and hypertensive patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myocardial hypertrophy of the left ventricle may be of physiological or pathological nature. Distinction of these two types of hypertrophy is sometimes not easy and represents a diagnostic challenge. The aim of the study was to assess global diastolic and regional systolic and diastolic myocardial function in the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy in athletes and hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 18 male hypertensive patients and 14 male athletes global diastolic left ventricular function and regional systolic and diastolic myocardial function of septum and posterior wall were investigated by pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ejection fraction and left ventricle mass index did not differ significantly between two groups. Hypertensive patients were found to have diastolic dysfunction while athletes had normal left ventricular diastolic function (the difference between the groups was P < 0.00001). Index of regional diastolic function of septum as well as of the posterior wall was significantly less in hypertensive patients than in athletes (P < 0.00001 for both). In spite of the normal global systolic function the regional systolic function of septum and posterior wall was significantly less in hypertensive patients than in athletes (P < 0.02 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results show significantly less global and regional diastolic function of hypertrophied myocardium in hypertensive patients than in athletes. In the presence of preserved left ventricular systolic function, the quantification of myocardial velocity revealed significantly lower regional systolic function of septum and posterior wall in hypertensive patients than in athletes.
authors.affiliation: Institut za prevenciju, lecenje i rehabilitaciju reumatiEkih i kardiovaskularnih bolesti, Niska Banja.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deljanin-Ilić
authors.forename: Stevan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ilić
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dordević
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zdravković
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ilić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D013177:Sports; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left