Effects of atenolol on left ventricular hypertrophy and early left ventricular function in essential hypertension.

Echocardiographic studies of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy indicate clinical benefits of antihypertensive therapy. Therefore, M-mode and Doppler techniques were used to assess changes in LV hypertrophy after 10, 30 and 50 weeks of atenolol therapy (50 or 100 mg once daily) in 19 patients with essential hypertension. After 50 weeks of atenolol treatment, the most notable changes were: for M-mode parameters, increases (p less than 0.05) in diastolic LV internal dimension, radius to thickness ratio and stroke volume, and decreases (p less than 0.01) in total wall thickness and heart rate; for Doppler parameters, increases (p less than 0.01) in slope and peripheral resistance, and decreases (p less than 0.01) in heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output. The decreased total wall thickness and increased radius to thickness ratio suggest a trend toward regression of LV hypertrophy. These findings, along with improvements in blood pressure, pulse and exercise stress tests, indicate potential benefits of atenolol in managing patients with essential hypertension and LV hypertrophy.