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[Relation between left ventricular mass indexes and cardiac function in hypertensive patients: an approach with
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei.
Insights
In hypertensive patients, increased left ventricular mass (LVMI) initially impairs diastolic function and enlarges the left atrium. Significant LVMI increases also affect systolic function and chamber size.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Essential hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease.
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common complication of hypertension.
- Understanding early cardiac structural and functional changes is crucial for risk stratification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and left ventricular (LV) function in hypertensive patients.
- To identify early echocardiographic signs of cardiac remodeling in essential hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-three hypertensive patients were categorized into four groups based on LVMI.
- Doppler and M-mode echocardiography were utilized to assess LV systolic and diastolic functions.
- Cardiac dimensions and left atrial size were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Slight increases in LVMI were associated with normal LV systolic function but abnormal diastolic function and left atrial enlargement.
- Significant LVMI increases led to enlarged left atrium and left ventricle, with impaired LV systolic and diastolic functions.
- Left atrial enlargement was observed even with normal LV systolic function.
Conclusions:
- Increased LV mass is an early finding in essential hypertension.
- Left atrial enlargement serves as an early indicator of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
- Diastolic dysfunction precedes systolic dysfunction in the progression of hypertensive heart disease.
Abstract:
73 age-matched hypertensive patients, 46 men and 27 women, were divided into the four groups according to left ventricular mass indexes (LVMI) and normal control groups were established correspondingly. Doppler and M-mode echocardiography were used to assess the systolic and diastolic functions of left ventricle (LV) and the alterations of heart construction. It was shown that when the LVMI increased slightly, the internal dimension and systolic function of LV had no significant change, but the diastolic function became abnormal and the left atrium enlarged. When the LVMI increased significantly, both the left atrium and left ventricle enlarged and the systolic and diastolic functions of LV were impaired. It is concluded that increase of LV mass may be present in the early stage of hypertension and left atrial enlargement is an early sign of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which occurs before systolic dysfunction in the patients with essential hypertension.
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