Left ventricular mass regression and diastolic function improvement in mild and moderate hypertensive patients...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Hypertension Management

Background:

• Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, often leading to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are a cornerstone in managing hypertension and its cardiac sequelae.
• Assessing the impact of ACE inhibitors on cardiac structure and function is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of lisinopril in reducing blood pressure and left ventricular mass.
• To assess the effect of lisinopril on left ventricular diastolic function using echo-Doppler.
• To compare clinic blood pressure measurements with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) during lisinopril treatment.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 30 hypertensive patients treated with lisinopril (10-40 mg daily) for 16 weeks.
• Blood pressure was measured using both conventional clinic methods and 24-hour ABPM.
• Echocardiography (echo-Doppler) was employed to assess left ventricular mass, wall thickness, and diastolic function.

Main Results:

• Lisinopril significantly reduced clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.005).
• ABPM showed a significant decrease in the frequency of elevated systolic (>140 mmHg) and diastolic (>90 mmHg) blood pressure readings (p < 0.005).
• Left ventricular mass, septal wall thickness, and posterior wall thickness all decreased significantly (p < 0.005), while diastolic function did not change significantly.

Conclusions:

• Lisinopril effectively lowers blood pressure, both in clinic and ambulatory settings.
• Treatment with lisinopril leads to a significant reduction in left ventricular mass and hypertrophy.
• Lisinopril demonstrates potential benefits in reversing cardiac structural changes associated with hypertension.