[Hypertensive cardiopathy. Study of cardiac performance]

Twenty-two hypertensive patients with normal coronary arteriograms underwent a complete study of left ventricular performance. The patients were classified into three groups according to the findings on X-ray and ECG investigation: group I--ECG normal, X-ray normal (6 cases); group II--ECG showed left atrial hypertrophy, X-ray normal (7 cases); group III-ECG showed left ventricular hypertrophy, X-ray showed cardiac dilatation (9 cases). The results of this study were as follows:--cardiac ouptut was lowered in groups II and III;--end-diastolic volume was lowered in group II and raised in group III;--LVEDP was raised in groups II and III;--V max and VEC max were lower in groups II and III than in group I;--left ventricular compliance was diminished in groups I and II. Myocardial rigidity of the left ventricle was similar in the three groups. Hypertensive heart disease is therefore characterised by early changes in compliance of the left ventricle. These are associated with geometrical changes in the ventricle: disturbance of the volume/mass ratio of the left ventricle. These findings have therapeutic implications for the importance of beta-blockers.