[Non-invasive evaluation of left-ventricular function in hypertension].

Left-ventricular functions were assessed by means of mechanocardiography in patients with essential hypertension in the absence of signs of heart failure. A significant prolongation of the isovolumic relaxation phase, rapid filling phase, and an increase in the amplitude of apex-cardiographic "a" wave were found in hypertensive patients showing no ventricular hypertrophy. Similar but more pronounced disorders were observed in patients with ventricular hypertrophy where, in addition, the pre-ejection period was prolonged and there were signs of asynergic contraction. The findings testify to diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle as a result of its impaired compliance, already present in the early phases of essential hypertension. Mechanocardiography is a suitable method for the detection of cardiac dysfunction in essential hypertension.