Increased left ventricular non-uniformity in hypertensive patients with angina.

AIM

To determine how hypertension affects the left ventricular diastolic function of patients with effort angina.

METHODS

We performed radionuclide ventriculography in 14 patients with isolated stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery and in seven healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

Neither global nor regional peak filling rate differed significantly between the patients with (n = 6) and without (n = 8) hypertension, although the left ventricular asynchronous index was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the hypertensive patients (87 +/- 20 ms), compared with the normotensive patients (59 +/- 22 ms). This index was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with left ventricular mass index in all participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension increased the diastolic non-uniformity of the left ventricle in patients with effort angina.