[Different left ventricular geometric patterns and ambulatory pulse pressures in essential hypertensive patients]

To explore the relationship between different left ventricular geometric patterns and ambulatory pulse pressures in essential hypertension patients.

Left ventricular geometric patterns were identified according to the results of left ventricular mass index and relative left ventricular thickness assessed by echocardiography in 130 hypertension patients. The average levels of 24-hour pulse pressure, daytime pulse pressure, and nighttime pulse pressure were analyzed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The method of multiple stepwise regression analysis was applied to identify the independent determinants of ambulatory pulse pressures. After controlling or adjusting the effects of agr and the 24-hour mean arterial pressure, the average levels of 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime pulse pressure among different left ventricular geometric patterns were compared. Forty normotensive subjects served as controls.

The age and the level of 24-hour mean arterial pressure were the independent determinants of 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime pulse pressure. After adjusting the effects of age and 24-hour mean arterial pressure, the average levels of 24-hour pulse pressure and daytime pulse pressure in concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy pattern groups were higher than those in the control group and normal geometric pattern group, whereas there were not significant differences among different left ventricular remodeling patterns at the average levels of 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime pulse pressure.

Pulse pressure is an important risk factor in the development of cardiac remodeling in essential hypertension.