[Arterial hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy: viewpoint of the cardiologist performing echocardiography]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a primary cardiac complication of systemic hypertension.
• LVH is a significant and independent cardiovascular risk factor, necessitating its accurate identification.
• Electrocardiography (ECG) demonstrates limited sensitivity for detecting LVH, making alternative methods crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of echocardiography in assessing left-ventricular mass in hypertensive patients.
• To recommend a standardized approach for echocardiographic assessment of LVH.
• To highlight the comprehensive diagnostic value of echocardiography beyond LVH measurement.

Main Methods:

• Application of the Penn convention using M-mode echocardiography for left-ventricular mass determination.
• Inclusion of echocardiography in the diagnostic work-up for hypertensive patients with additional cardiological indications.
• Comprehensive assessment of valvular and left-ventricular systolic/diastolic function via echocardiography.

Main Results:

• Echocardiography is the preferred method for determining left-ventricular mass, despite known limitations.
• The Penn convention provides a recommended approach for M-mode echocardiography in LVH assessment.
• Echocardiography yields extensive data on cardiac structure and function, including valvular and ventricular performance.

Conclusions:

• Echocardiography is a valuable tool for diagnosing left-ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive individuals.
• The Penn convention is recommended for standardized M-mode echocardiographic measurements of LVH.
• Echocardiography should be integrated into the work-up of hypertensive patients, especially when other cardiac abnormalities are suspected, due to its broad diagnostic capabilities.