Left ventricular hypertrophy regression: the LIVE trial

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a clinical condition associated with an increased risk of vascular events. Several trials have been done to evaluate the action of different antihypertensive treatments on the regression of LVH IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS. The efficacy of diuretics in the reduction of LVH is controversial. The LIVE study (Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Regression: Indapamide Versus Enalapril) is a European, prospective, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial aimed to compare the efficacy of indapamide 1.5 mg daily with that of enalapril 20 mg daily in the reduction of LVH in hypertensive patients (systolic blood pressure > 160 and < 210 mmHg) with LVH (left ventricular mass index 120 g/m2 in men and > 100 g/m2 in women) after 1 year of treatment. The assessment of LVH was done by echocardiography. A blind randomised reading of the echo recordings was performed at the end of the study by an independent Core Echocardiography Committee with three readers. Preliminary data are available from this trial. These data confirm the antihypertensive efficacy of indapamide and its efficacy in the reduction of left ventricular mass through a progressive action over 1 year.