[Is left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension a marker for coronary risk factors?].

86 asymptomatic men with mild to moderate hypertension were examined by echocardiography, exercise ECG and measurements of their lipid profile. Left ventricular hypertrophy, defined as an increased left ventricular mass index > or = 130 g/m2, was found in 38 (44%) patients. Only two men showed evidence of silent ischemia during maximum exercise. The men with left ventricular hypertrophy had a higher systolic blood pressure at rest (p = 0.0002), at submaximal (p = 0.02) and maximal exercise (p = 0.01). The prevalence of smokers was the same, as were the concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins in the two groups. Except for a higher blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy is not a special marker for other coronary risk factors.