[The connection between late ventricular potentials and ventricular arrhythmias in hypertension patients with different forms of myocardial hypertrophy].

AIM

To estimate the incidence of late ventricular potentials (LVP) and their implication in cardiac arrhythmia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

53 patients with blood hypertension stage II (mean age 50 +/- 1 years) having symmetric (n = 23) and asymmetric (n = 15) left ventricular hypertrophy as well as 15 patients free of hypertrophy underwent conventional 12-lead ECG, Holter monitoring, echocardiography and late potentials (LP) recording using signal-averaged high resolution ECG.

RESULTS

LP occurred more often in asymmetric myocardial hypertrophy than in symmetric one. There was no strong correlation between LP and ventricular arrhythmias except patients with symmetric myocardial hypertrophy.

CONCLUSION

In patients with hypertension stage II late potentials seem to arise due to increased hypertrophic myocardium depolarization time, myocardial fibrosis and local intramural blockades.