Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Published on: June 27, 2025
[Left and right ventricular hypertrophy at autopsy of hypertensive individuals]
Mirella Pessoa Sant'Anna1, Roberto José Vieira de Mello, Luciano Tavares Montenegro
1Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil. mipessoa@ig.com.br
Insights
Hypertension can cause thickening of both the right and left ventricles (RVH and LVH). Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) appears linked to more severe heart disease in hypertensive individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Hypertension Research
Context:
- Autopsy studies are crucial for understanding long-term cardiovascular changes.
- Essential arterial hypertension significantly impacts cardiac structure.
Purpose:
- To quantify right and left ventricular thickness in hypertensive deceased individuals.
- To correlate cardiac hypertrophy with autopsy findings and clinical history.
Summary:
- A study of 90 hypertensive individuals revealed significant associations between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH).
- RVH and LVH were more prevalent in men aged 60-79, Black and mulatto Brazilians, and individuals with adequate nutritional status, overweight, or obesity.
- RVH was associated with severe hypertensive cardiomyopathy and may indicate more advanced heart disease.
Impact:
- Findings suggest shared pathogenic mechanisms in bilateral ventricular hypertrophy.
- Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) may serve as a novel prognostic marker for hypertensive heart disease evaluation.
Objective:
To measure the right and left ventricular thickness in deceased individuals with a history of hypertension submitted to clinical autopsies.
Methods:
We selected 90 cases from the Death Verification Service of the city of Recife, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, of both sexes, with a history of essential arterial hypertension related to heart wall thickness, in addition to correlation with autopsy findings and other clinical reports.
Results:
There was a significant association between the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and between severe hypertensive cardiomyopathy and RVH. There was a predominance of RVH and LVH in men aged 60-79 years and a higher prevalence in the Brazilian mulatto and Black ethnic groups and in those with adequate nutritional status or overweight and obese individuals.
Conclusion:
It was observed that the presence of RVH was related to LVH, suggesting that there are similar pathogenic factors involved in the development of bilateral hypertrophy. The RVH seems to be associated with more severe heart disease and may, based on other studies, be considered as a new prognostic factor in the evaluation of hypertensive patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction
Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
Imbalances in Cardiac Output
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...

