Functional consequences of cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation

Based on animal experiments in rats (spontaneous and renal hypertension, experimental aortic stenosis, thyroxine and training-induced hypertrophy, and aorto-caval fistula with and without additional unilateral renal artery coarctation) as well as clinical data and literature, the functional consequences of cardiac hypertrophy and structural ventricular dilatation are analyzed and discussed. A methodological approach, developed on the basis of Frank's diagram and model calculations, permits quantitatively estimating the significance of ventricular geometry (wall thickness and inner dimensions) compared to myocardial alterations (decrease in contractility and distensibility) and hemodynamic load (preload and systolic pressure). As a rule, hypertrophy causes an increase in ventricular working capacity, which allows the heart to cope with an increased hemodynamic load without a decrease in stroke volume and without enhanced systolic stress requirement. Adverse consequences mainly concern ventricular compliance, cardiac energetics, and electrophysiological parameters. Particularly from the example of the aorto-caval fistula, it can be seen that enhanced systolic wall stress does not necessarily lead to heart failure within a few months. However, the length of time for which the additional wall stress, with correspondingly increased energy demand, can be tolerated remains to be determined. In later stages, a multitude of alterations on the cellular, tissue, and organ level occurs, affecting myocardial and ventricular mechanics and energetics, depending on the type, velocity of development, and duration of overload. A distinction should be made between the adverse alterations, which can be related to myocardial growth, and those that are not necessarily related to a certain cell size (receptors, transformation of the contractile proteins) as well as those changes that do not primarily influence the myocardial cell (arteriosclerosis, microangiopathy). Structural dilatation alone could lead to insufficiency only in the case of substantial increase in inner ventricular radius. Reduced contractility, myocardial distensibility, and increased pressure load aggravate the negative effects of dilatation in a predictable manner, as demonstrated on the basis of a representative case of dilative cardiomyopathy. Using the example of spontaneously hypertensive rats, it is shown that ventricular mass and shape are differently influenced by various blood-pressure lowering agents, e.g., atenolol, nifedipine, and dietary interventions. It is concluded from the analysis of chronic cardiac reactions that adaptive processes are, in principle, ambiguous in character, revealing negative components even in the case of regular adaptation. However, it seems unjustified to aim at a regression of hypertrophy without reducing the underlying hemodynamic overload.