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Myocardial performance in asymptomatic essential hypertension

Anil Kumar Pandey1, Asim Das, Ashutosh Kumar

  • 1Department of Physiology, GSL Medical College, Rajahmundry. drpandeyak@yahoo.co.in

Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
|February 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Asymptomatic essential hypertension impairs left ventricular function, reducing ejection fraction and fractional fiber shortening. Management should focus on reducing afterload to improve cardiac contractile state in hypertensive patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Left ventricular function in asymptomatic essential hypertension is not fully understood.
  • Essential hypertension can impact cardiac structure and function over time.
  • Early detection of cardiac changes is crucial for prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of asymptomatic untreated essential hypertension on left ventricular structure and function.
  • To assess cardiac parameters using echocardiography in hypertensive individuals.
  • To explore the relationship between left ventricular afterload and contractile state.

Main Methods:

  • Echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular function in 127 hypertensive and 80 healthy subjects.
  • Standard American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) conventions were applied for measurements.
  • Key parameters measured included stroke volume, ejection fraction, fractional fiber shortening, cardiac output, and cardiac index.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive subjects showed normal but significantly higher stroke volume, cardiac output, and cardiac index compared to normotensive controls.
  • Percentage ejection fraction and fractional fiber shortening were significantly reduced in hypertensive individuals.
  • Impaired fractional fiber shortening correlated with alterations in left ventricular dimensions and geometry.

Conclusions:

  • Asymptomatic essential hypertension negatively affects left ventricular contractile function, indicated by reduced ejection fraction and fractional fiber shortening.
  • Left ventricular afterload is a key factor influencing cardiac contractile state in hypertension.
  • Reducing afterload is a critical therapeutic goal for improving left ventricular function in hypertensive patients.

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