[Aorta-left ventricle coupling in permanent arterial hypertension using Doppler echocardiography]

We have studied 12 sustained hypertensive patients (H) (9 men and 3 women) untreated and without other heart disease than a left ventricular hypertrophy, 37 to 70 years of age (mean 56 +/- 12) and 12 normotensive subjects (N) of the same sex and 35 to 77 years of age (mean 52 +/- 16 ans). We have measured 1) arterial pressure (AP) by a standard mercury sphygmomanometer, 2) diameter of ascending aorta (AD), end diastolic left ventricular radius (r) and thickness (Th) by M mode echocardiography with 2D echo control., 3) isthmus-diaphragm pulse wave delay (PWD) from aortic velocity curves recorded in the isthmus and diaphragm aortic crossing by pulsed doppler. We derived 1) the pulse wave velocity (PWV) as PW = SL/PWD where SL is the sternal length, 2) PWV/AD ratio as an indirect index of characteristic impedance, 3) Th/r and LV mass (m) according to Teichholz formula: (table; see text) In both groups 1) m is significantly correlated with SAP (r = 0.67 p less than 0.001), PP (r = 0.61 p less than 0.001), PWV (r = 0.52 p less than 0.01) but not with PWV/AD; 2) Th/r ratio is significantly correlated with SAP (r = 0.64 p less than 0.001), PP (r = 0.63 p less than 0.001), PWV (r = 0.53 p less than 0.001) and PWV/AD (r = 0.41 p less than 0.05). Relationship between PWV and age of H is linear (r = 0.75 p less than 0.001) and shifted at left of that of N which is also linear (r = 0.061 p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)