The therapeutic implications of diastolic time changes in systemic hypertension

Twenty-five patients with chronic systemic hypertension were studied. Systolic time intervals and diastolic time were determined at baseline and after 12 weeks of therapy with nadolol, with or without bendroflumethiazide (treatment phase I), then after 12 weeks of therapy with hydralazine, bendroflumethiazide, or both (treatment phase II). Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures were equally controlled after either treatment regimen. Heart rate was significantly slower after treatment phase I compared to baseline or after treatment phase II (p less than 0.001). Systolic time per minute was significantly shorter and diastolic time per beat and per minute were significantly longer after treatment phase I compared to baseline or after treatment phase II (p less than 0.001). Double and triple products decreased after either mode of therapy; however, these parameters were significantly lower after treatment phase I compared to treatment phase II (p less than 0.01). These changes in systolic and diastolic time and double and triple products may be of clinical significance during therapy of chronic systemic hypertension and may help explain the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension treated with sympathetic blocking agents.