Related Experiment Videos
Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with an attenuated endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypertensive men
1Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is linked to impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) in hypertensive patients. This suggests endothelial dysfunction may contribute to LVH development or indicate a more severe hypertensive condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common complication of hypertension.
- Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by impaired vasodilation, is increasingly recognized in hypertensive individuals.
- The relationship between LVH and endothelial function requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) in hypertensive patients.
- To compare EDV and endothelium-independent vasodilation (EIDV) in hypertensive patients with and without LVH, and with healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 30 untreated hypertensive, 18 treated hypertensive, and 26 normotensive control subjects.
- Assessed forearm EDV using methacholine (MCh) infusion and EIDV using sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion.
- Measured forearm blood flow via plethysmography and LVH via echocardiography.
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients with LVH exhibited significantly reduced EDV compared to those without LVH, in both untreated and treated groups.
- EDV was significantly impaired in hypertensive patients with LVH compared to healthy controls.
- No significant differences in EIDV were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- The presence of LVH in hypertensive patients is associated with endothelial dysfunction.
- Endothelial dysfunction may play a role in the development of LVH.
- LVH and endothelial dysfunction may serve as co-markers of more severe hypertensive disease.
Abstract:
To investigate the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV), 30 untreated hypertensive patients, 18 treated hypertensives (53 +/- 7 years, all males) and 26 age-and sex-matched healthy normotensive controls, underwent evaluation of EDV and endothelium-independent vasodilation (EIDV) in the forearm, by means of local intra-arterial infusions of methacholine (MCh, evaluating EDV) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, evaluating EIDV). Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography and LVH was measured by echocardiography. The reduction in forearm vascular resistance during MCh infusion (4 microg/min) was significantly smaller in the hypertensive patients with LVH when compared to those without LVH, both in the untreated (-61 +/- 12%, n = 19 vs -72 +/- 4%, n = 11, p < 0.01) and in the treated group (-60 +/- 15%, n = 11 vs -75 +/- 5%, n = 7, p < 0.01). Thereby, EDV was significantly impaired only in the hypertensive patients with LVH when compared to controls (-77 +/- 7% at MCh 4 microg/min, p < 0.001). EIDV was not significantly different between patients with and without LVH and controls. In conclusion, the presence of LVH was related to endothelial dysfunction, both in untreated and treated hypertensive patients, suggesting either a role for endothelial function in the development of LVH, or that a dysfunctional endothelium and LVH are coexisting markers of a more severe hypertensive disease.