Basal Ventricular Septal Hypertrophy in Systemic Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Hypertensive Heart Disease

Background:

• Systemic hypertension frequently causes basal septal hypertrophy (BSH), linked to increased afterload.
• The specific impact of localized hypertrophy on left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) function remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if BSH signifies a greater impact of hypertension on cardiac function in early hypertensive heart disease.
• To investigate the relationship between BSH and LV/LA function in well-controlled hypertensive patients.

Main Methods:

• Echocardiography, including 2D speckle tracking and Doppler imaging, was used in 163 hypertensive patients and 22 controls.
• BSH was defined as a basal-to-mid septal thickness ratio ≥1.4.
• LV and LA function, including deformation and diastolic function, were assessed.

Main Results:

• BSH was present in 20% of the hypertensive cohort.
• Patients with BSH exhibited reduced regional LV systolic deformation and impaired LV relaxation.
• LA functional impairment, including reduced reservoir strain, was observed in patients with BSH.

Conclusions:

• Well-controlled hypertension with early LV remodeling and localized hypertrophy (BSH) is associated with impaired LV and LA function.
• BSH may function as an early indicator of the cumulative impact of hypertensive heart disease.