A010: Diastolic mitral flow characteristics and atrial volumes in the hypertensive heart

• Published in: American journal of hypertension 2000-04, Vol.13 (S2), p.43A-43A
• Main Authors: Rizzo, V., DiMaio, F., Villatico Campbell, S., Tallarico, D., Perilli, R., Petretto, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diastolic function; hypertension; left ventricular hypertrophy
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-7061(00)00402-7

Diastolic dysfunction is commonly observed in hypertrophic-hypertensive hearts, but only a percentage of hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) shows a clear involvement in filling performance. Aim of this study was to evaluate a possible interplay between LVH and atrial volume enlargement in hypertensives with high 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP). 44 patients were submitted to a 24 hour ABP monitoring and to a complete evaluation of Doppler echocardiographic diastolic function and atrial volumes (Simpson's method). Three fully-validated patterns of diastolic mitral flow were considered for the study: normal flow, impaired relaxation and restrictive physiology patterns. All the subjects were admitted to the study with the following selection criteria: left ventricular mass index > 125 g/m2 in both sexes, casual blood pressure higher than W.H.O. values, and high 24-hour ABP. Exclusion criteria were ischemic heart disease, secondary hypertension, renal diseases, valvular diseases. Only patients with significant left atrial volume enlargement and LVH showed impaired relaxation pattern of diastolic mitral flow. The restrictive physiology pattern was uncommon in our sample of hypertrophic hypertensive subjects and a normal diastolic function was observed in 25% of them. So atrial volume enlargement seems to be linked to abnormalities of left ventricular filling in hypertrophic hypertensives; the contemporary presence of LVH and atrial enlargement can increase the risk of diastolic dysfunction in hypertensives.