title: Left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial stiffness in essential hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between an increase in arterial stiffness and the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty essential hypertension patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on echocardiographic measurements; with left ventricular hypertrophy (n=70) and without left ventricular hypertrophy (n=70). The criterion for hypertrophy was accepted as an intraventricular septum and posterior wall thickness in diastole of 11 mm or above. Aortic stiffness values of the patients groups were measured noninvasively by arteriography through the brachial artery. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements were used as indicators of arterial stiffness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to the group without left ventricular hypertrophy, elevated systolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, and pulse pressure were located in the left ventricular hypertrophy group at a significant level (p > 0.01). A statistically significant difference was not observed in the diastolic blood pressure and pulse measurements of the groups. Pulse wave velocity, the indicator of arterial stiffness, was elevated to a significant degree in the left ventricular hypertrophy group (p > 0.01). While a positive correlation was found between pulse wave velocity and left ventricle mass index, microalbuminuria, high sensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), and left ventricle end-diastolic volume, a negative correlation was found between pulse wave propagation velocity and left ventricle E/A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, pulse wave analysis is a valuable method for predicting cardiac hypertrophy in essential hypertension (Tab. 6, Ref. 25).
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tufenk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Illyes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acarturk
keywords: arterial stiffness; hypertension; left ventricular hypertrophy.