[Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in hypertensive heart disease]

The main important diagnostic and therapeutic problems in hypertensive heart disease refer to the further improvement in the diagnostic procedures in hypertensive hypertrophy; moreover, structural changes of the hypertrophied myocardium have to be analyzed. Quantitative findings concerning the coronary circulation as well as the global and regional myocardial perfusion are desirable. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias has to be clarified. Further diagnostic studies are needed with regard to the rheological changes as well to the mechanisms for silent and manifest myocardial ischemia. From the therapeutic point of view future studies are desirable concerning the regression of myocardial and vascular hypertrophy, with the aim to find out the optimal therapy for treating both high blood pressure and the hypertension induced structural myocardial and vascular alterations.