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Progressive hypertrophy regression with sustained pressure reduction in hypertension: the Losartan Intervention For
Richard B Devereux1, Vittorio Palmieri, Jennifer E Liu
1Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. rbdevere@med.cornell.edu
Insights
Blood pressure control in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) led to significant LV mass reduction over two years. This demonstrates the cardiac benefits of sustained antihypertensive treatment and LVH regression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, often leading to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
- Effective blood pressure (BP) control is crucial for managing hypertension and preventing target organ damage.
- The time course of LV geometric changes in response to antihypertensive therapy requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time-dependent changes in left ventricular (LV) geometry in hypertensive patients undergoing antihypertensive treatment.
- To assess the impact of sustained blood pressure (BP) control on LV mass and LVH regression over a 2-year period.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of losartan-based versus atenolol-based regimens in achieving LVH regression.
Main Methods:
- A total of 754 hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic LVH were enrolled in the LIFE trial.
- Echocardiographic measurements of LV mass and geometry were taken at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months.
- Patients received blinded treatment with either losartan-based or atenolol-based antihypertensive regimens.
Main Results:
- Mean systolic/diastolic BP decreased significantly from 173/95 mmHg to 148/83 mmHg over 2 years.
- Echocardiographic LV mass decreased from 233 g to 195 g (P < 0.001), with parallel decreases in indexed LV mass.
- Prevalence of eccentric LVH decreased from 44% to 30%, concentric LVH from 24% to 2%, and normal LV geometry increased from 22% to 64%.
Conclusions:
- Sustained BP reduction effectively decreases LV mass and the prevalence of anatomic LVH in hypertensive patients with target organ damage.
- Maximum regression of LVH with effective antihypertensive treatment requires at least 2 years.
- These findings highlight the significant cardiac benefits of long-term BP control in hypertensive individuals.
Objective:
To examine the time course of left ventricular (LV) geometric response to blood pressure (BP) control during 2 years of systematic antihypertensive treatment.
Design:
A total of 754 hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by Cornell voltage-duration product or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria on a screening electrocardiogram had their LV mass measured by echocardiogram at enrolment in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint Reduction (LIFE) trial, and after 12 and 24 months of blinded therapy with losartan-based or atenolol-based regimens.
Setting:
The LIFE trial, in which hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic LVH (Cornell voltage-duration product > 2440 mm x ms and/or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria SV1 + RV5-6 > 38 mm) were randomized to >or= 4 years double-blinded treatment with losartan or atenolol.
Participants:
A total of 754 LIFE participants with serial echocardiographic measurements of LV geometry.
Interventions:
None.
Main Outcome Measures:
LV wall thicknesses, diameter and mass, and its indices.
Results:
Mean systolic/diastolic BP fell from 173/95 to 150/84 mmHg after 1 year (P < 0.001) and to 148/83 mmHg at year 2 (P = not significant). Mean echocardiographic LV mass fell from 233 g at baseline to 206 g after 1 year (P < 0.001, adjusted for change in systolic BP) and to 195 g at year 2 (P < 0.001 versus year 1), with a parallel decrease in indexed LV mass [from 56.1 to 49.7 g/m2.7 (P < 0.001), to 47.1 g/m2.7 (P < 0.001 versus year 1)]. Relative wall thickness decreased from 0.41 at baseline to 0.37 at year 1 (P < 0.001), to 0.36 at year 2 (P < 0.001 versus year 1). As a result, there were serial decreases in prevalences of eccentric LVH [44 to 38%, and to 30% (P < 0.001 versus year 1)] and concentric LVH [24 to 7% (P < 0.001), to 2% (P < 0.05 versus year 1)], and increases in the proportion with normal LV geometry [22 to 50% (P < 0.001), and to 64% (P < 0.01 versus year 1)].
Conclusions:
Sustained BP reduction in hypertensive patients with target organ damage causes continued decrease in echocardiographic LV mass and prevalence of anatomic LVH for at least 2 years despite only small BP decreases after the first year of blinded therapy. These data document cardiac benefit of sustained BP control and suggest that maximum LVH regression with effective antihypertensive treatment requires at least 2 years.