[A MR tomographic method for studying heart function in malignant arterial hypertension]

To study the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the determination of heart morphology and function, 47 patients with malignant arterial hypertension (MAH) were examined. The images of the both ventricles, ventricular septum (VS), left ventricular (LV) apex and posterior wall (LVPW), aortic root and left atrium were studied. In all the patients, symmetric LV hypertrophy was found and the thickness of LVPW was 1.46 cm, IVS, 1.53 cm. The heart chambers were not enlarged. The diameter of aortic root was 3.36 cm. There was a close correlation between LV hypertrophy and blood pressure. We conclude that the development of LV hypertrophy in MAH is not merely a compensatory process response to high blood pressure.