[Left and right ventricular diastolic properties in essential hypertension during cold pressor test: noninvasive assessment by pulsed Doppler echocardiography].

The diastolic properties of the left and right ventricles of 17 essential hypertensive patients (HT) without left ventricular hypertrophy and of 12 normotensive subjects were assessed by pulsed Doppler echocardiography during the cold pressor test (CPT) and after administration of nifedipine (10 mg). The results were as follows: 1. The peak blood flow velocities due to the left and right atrial contractions (ALV, ARV) at rest in the HT group were significantly greater (p less than 0.001) than those in the control group. The ratios of peak velocities due to atrial contraction and rapid filling of each ventricle (A/R) in the HT group were significantly increased (p less than 0.001) compared with those of the controls. 2. The peak rapid filling flow velocity of each ventricle during cold pressor test in the HT group was significantly less and the A/R of each ventricle was significantly (p less than 0.001) greater compared to those at rest. 3. Diastolic indices and systolic blood pressure did not change significantly after administration of nifedipine at rest or during cold pressor test. These results indicate that abnormal diastolic properties of the left and right ventricles are further deteriorated by increasing afterload.