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[Arrhythmic risk in essential hypertension: late potentials]

P Palmiero1, M Maiello

  • 1Cardiologia Ambulatoriale, ASL BR 1, Brindisi. pasqualepalmiero@yahoo.it

Minerva Cardioangiologica
|February 7, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Essential hypertension patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and ventricular arrhythmias face higher cardiac death risks. Early detection via 24-h ambulatory arterial blood pressure monitoring is crucial for aggressive treatment and sudden cardiac death prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Essential hypertension is linked to increased cardiac death risk, particularly with ventricular arrhythmias.
  • Current diagnostic criteria for hypertensive patients at risk for arrhythmia are often non-selective.
  • 24-hour ambulatory arterial blood pressure monitoring offers a more selective approach than traditional diastolic pressure measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia in untreated essential hypertension patients.
  • To assess the diagnostic value of 24-hour ambulatory arterial blood pressure monitoring for identifying arrhythmia risk.
  • To correlate noninvasive imaging findings with arrhythmia presence and severity.

Main Methods:

  • 128 essential hypertension patients underwent 24-hour ambulatory arterial blood pressure monitoring.
  • Echocardiography (mono- and two-dimensional) was used to assess left ventricular hypertrophy.
  • 24-hour dynamic Holter monitoring identified arrhythmias and left ventricular late potentials.

Main Results:

  • Left ventricular hypertrophy was observed in 70.6% of patients.
  • Ventricular arrhythmias were detected across various grades (Lown classification), with significant prevalence.
  • Late potentials, indicative of arrhythmia risk, were present in 20% of patients.

Conclusions:

  • A significant correlation exists between left ventricular hypertrophy and the grade of ventricular arrhythmia.
  • The presence of late potentials strongly correlates with both left ventricular hypertrophy and arrhythmia severity.
  • These findings highlight the need for aggressive treatment in hypertensive patients with LVH and arrhythmias to prevent sudden cardiac death.
Abstract

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