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Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
06:34

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography

Published on: October 28, 2020

The relation between QRS amplitude and left ventricular mass in patients with hypertension identified at screening

Ljuba Bacharova1, Oleg V Baum, Galina A Muromtseva

  • 1International Laser Center, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. bacharova@ilc.sk

Anadolu Kardiyoloji Dergisi : AKD = the Anatolian Journal of Cardiology
|August 1, 2007
PubMed

Insights

The specific potential of myocardium (SP) is a more sensitive indicator of early cardiac remodeling in hypertension than traditional measures. This parameter can detect changes even before left ventricular hypertrophy is clinically apparent.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiac target organ damage.
  • Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common consequence of hypertension, but early signs of myocardial remodeling may precede its clinical detection.
  • Assessing early cardiac changes in hypertensive patients without overt LVH is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between QRS amplitude and left ventricular mass (LVM) in hypertensive patients.
  • To identify novel markers for early detection of myocardial remodeling in hypertension, particularly in individuals without clinical LVH.
  • To evaluate the utility of the specific potential of myocardium (SP) as an indicator of early hypertrophic remodeling.

Main Methods:

  • Electrocardiograms were used to calculate the maximum QRS spatial vector magnitude (QRSmax).
  • Left ventricular mass (LVM) was assessed using echocardiography.
  • The specific potential of myocardium (SP) was computed as the ratio of QRSmax to LVM.
  • The study included healthy subjects and hypertensive patients, with a focus on a subgroup free of LVH.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive subjects exhibited higher LVM but significantly lower QRSmax and SP values compared to healthy individuals.
  • Even in the LVH-free subgroup, hypertensive patients showed significantly lower SP values.
  • These findings were independent of age and body mass index differences between groups.

Conclusions:

  • The specific potential of myocardium (SP) is a more sensitive parameter for evaluating early hypertrophic remodeling than the separate assessment of LVM and QRS voltage.
  • SP can detect early myocardial remodeling in hypertensive subjects even before signs of cardiac target organ involvement are evident by current clinical classifications.
Abstract

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