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Persistence of systolic coronary flow reversal predicts irreversible dysfunction after reperfused anterior myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate serial assessments of systolic coronary flow reversal in the infarct related artery for predicting poor left ventricular functional recovery after reperfused acute myocardial infarction. SETTING: Regional hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 49 patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction had transthoracic Doppler echocardiography to record coronary flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery immediately after successful primary coronary angioplasty (day 0), and at 48 hours, one week, and three weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Coronary flow velocity at each time point; regional wall motion score index (RWMSI) at day 0 and at three weeks. Irreversible dysfunction was defined as a decrease in RWMSI to < 0.22. RESULTS: Measurements of coronary flow velocity could be made in 45 patients. Patients were divided into three groups: no systolic flow reversal (group 1, n = 27), systolic flow reversal observed only on day 0 (group 2, n = 8), and systolic flow reversal persisting until 48 hours (group 3, n = 10). Although baseline RWMSI was similar among the three groups, the value at three weeks was significantly higher in group 3 than in the other two groups. In predicting irreversible dysfunction, the persistence of systolic flow reversal up to 48 hours had a higher positive predictive value (100%) than the presence of systolic flow reversal on day 0 (67%, p < 0.04). The negative predictive value of systolic flow reversal at 48 hours (83%) was comparable in accuracy to the presence of systolic flow reversal on day 0 (85%, NS). CONCLUSIONS: In reperfused anterior acute myocardial infarction, serial assessment of coronary flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery is feasible using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, and the persistence of systolic flow reversal at 48 hours is a more specific marker of irreversible dysfunction than peak creatine kinase or diastolic deceleration time.

Adult↗

Is there a relationship between exercise systolic blood pressure response and left ventricular mass? The Framingham Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between an exaggerated exercise systolic blood pressure response and the occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy in healthy, normotensive individuals. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using M-mode echocardiography to measure left ventricular mass and to detect left ventricular hypertrophy. SETTING: The Framingham Heart Study. SUBJECTS: Eight-hundred sixty men and 1118 women were studied who were free of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, who were not taking any antihypertensive or cardiovascular medications, and who successfully achieved at least 90% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate during a monitored exercise treadmill test. All subjects had normal baseline and exercise electrocardiograms. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Men with a peak exercise systolic blood pressure of 210 or more and women with a peak exercise systolic blood pressure of 190 or more were considered to have an "exaggerated" blood pressure response; 122 men and 67 women met these criteria. Subjects with an exaggerated exercise systolic blood pressure response had 10% higher left ventricular mass than those with a normal exercise systolic blood pressure response (in men: 115 +/- 25 compared with 105 +/- 24 g/m, P less than 0.001; in women: 86 +/- 22 compared with 73 +/- 16 g/m, P less than 0.001); they also had a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (in men: odds ratio, 1.34, 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.80; in women: odds ratio, 2.12, CI, 1.48 to 3.03). After adjusting for age, resting systolic blood pressure, and body mass index, however, subjects with an exaggerated exercise systolic blood pressure response had only 5% higher left ventricular mass (in men: 111 +/- 2.1 compared with 106 +/- 0.8 g/m, P = 0.02; in women: 80 +/- 1.8 compared with 74 +/- 0.4 g/m, P = 0.002), and they no longer had a statistically increased prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (in men: odds ratio, 1.21, CI, 0.87 to 1.67; in women: odds ratio, 1.30, CI, 0.84 to 2.01). CONCLUSIONS: The apparent relation between exercise systolic blood pressure response and left ventricular mass is confounded by age, resting systolic blood pressure, and body mass; the degree of confounding is such that the biologic significance of this relationship should be questioned.

Adult↗

The diastolic blood pressure in systolic hypertension.

Because antihypertensive therapy is effective in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension, attention has been focused on the systolic blood pressure as a predictor of cardiovascular risk. However, it is a normal diastolic pressure that separates patients with isolated systolic hypertension from those with essential hypertension. The normal diastolic and elevated systolic pressures are largely due to age-related stiffening of the aorta. An indistensible aorta causes the pressure pulse to travel faster than normal, where it is quickly reflected off the peripheral resistance. The reflected wave then returns to the central aorta in systole rather than diastole. This augments the systolic pressure further, increasing cardiac work while reducing the diastolic pressure, on which coronary flow is dependent. The potential harm of further reducing the diastolic pressure with antihypertensive therapy, especially in patients with coronary heart disease, underlies the controversial "J curve." By decreasing the blood pressure, all antihypertensive agents improve aortic distensibility, but no agents do so directly; the nitrates come the closest. Such an agent would be useful because any therapeutic increase in aortic distensibility would decrease systolic pressure without greatly reducing diastolic pressure. The problem is complicated by the suspected inaccuracy of the cuff technique in predicting the aortic diastolic pressure. New noninvasive methods to predict the aortic diastolic pressure may help in the future. At present, the combination of a high systolic and normal diastolic pressure-a widened pulse pressure-seems to be the best predictor of cardiovascular risk in patients with hypertension or heart disease. Patients with isolated systolic hypertension should be treated, but marked diastolic hypotension should be avoided.

Aging↗

Comparative effects of propranolol and diltiazem on systolic and diastolic left ventricular function in essential hypertension.

The effects of propranolol and diltiazem on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in hypertensive subjects (DBP 90-114 mmHg) were examined with M-mode and 2D echocardiograms in 21 patients in a double-blind fashion prior to and after 4 months of treatment. Systolic function was assessed by measurement of fractional shortening, mean velocity of fibre shortening, peak systolic pressure/end systolic dimension ratio, and end systolic stress/end systolic dimension ratio. To assess diastolic function, maximal rate of change in left ventricular dimension (MAXD), maximal rate of change in posterior wall thinning (MAX PWT) and early diastolic (EDD) and late diastolic dimension changes (LDD) were calculated using digitised M-mode images of mid-wall diameter. Both propranolol and diltiazem reduced systolic and diastolic pressures similarly. No significant changes were observed in any of the parameters of systolic function with either drug. Similarly neither propranolol nor diltiazem altered MAXD or EDD significantly. Although changes in maximal rate of posterior wall thinning (MAX PWT) were not significant with either drug, diltiazem improved MAX PWT in 7 of 8 patients. The results of the study demonstrate that both propranolol and diltiazem reduce blood pressure without significant deleterious effects on systolic or diastolic function. Diastolic functional parameters, which were not abnormal at baseline, showed no consistent change with either propranolol or diltiazem.

Blood Pressure↗

Prevalence and persistency of orthostatic blood pressure fall in older patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Syst-Eur Investigators.

Postural hypotension in older people has been the subject of many studies, but there remains some doubt as to its true prevalence. This study investigated the prevalence and persistency of an exaggerated orthostatic blood pressure (BP) fall in a large group of older patients with isolated systolic hypertension. A total of 2716 patients, 917 men and 1799 women, whose age ranged from 60-100 years, were examined at three separate outpatient visits on a placebo in the single-blind run-in phase of the Syst-Eur Trial. The supine and standing BPs at each visit were the averages of two readings. An exaggerated BP fall was defined as a drop in systolic pressure by at least 20 mm Hg 2 min after assuming the standing from the supine position, or as a drop in the diastolic pressure by at least 10 mm Hg. The reproducibility of orthostatic BP changes was evaluated by the Bland and Altman technique. With the three run-in visits combined, the sitting pressure averaged ( +/- standard deviation) 174 +/- 11 mm Hg systolic and 86 +/- 6 mm Hg diastolic. Systolic pressure fell on average by 5 +/- 12 mm Hg from the supine to the standing position, whereas diastolic pressure increased by 2 +/- 7 mm Hg. The percentage of patients showing an exaggerated orthostatic BP fall was constant at each of the three run-in visits, ie 11-12% for systolic pressure and 4% for diastolic pressure. An exaggerated BP fall at each of the three run-in visits was only present in 3% of the patients for systolic pressure and in 0.4% for diastolic pressure. An exaggerated BP fall at the run-in visits was not associated with dizziness and syncope, which occurred in only 1% of the patients. The orthostatic fall in systolic, but not diastolic pressure, was greater (0.6 mm Hg; P < 0.05) at the second than at the first visit. The repeatability coefficients tended to be higher (60-65%), signifying lower reproducibility, than those for the BP levels (45-55%). An exaggerated fall in systolic or diastolic pressure may occasionally occur in nearly 10% of older patients with isolated systolic hypertension even without antihypertensive drug therapy, but a persistent orthostatic response in only rarely observed.

Aged↗

Prognosis of diastolic and systolic orthostatic hypotension in older persons.

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) predicts mortality in hypertensive persons with diabetes mellitus, but no increase in mortality has been found among random samples of home-dwelling persons with OH. We examined the risks of nonvascular and vascular deaths according to different definitions of OH among home-dwelling elderly persons. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of all persons aged 70 years or older living in 5 rural municipalities (N=969), of whom 833 (86%) participated. Orthostatic tests were successfully carried out in 792 persons by nurse examiners. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) drop of 20 mm Hg or more or a diastolic BP drop of 10 mm Hg or more 1 minute or 3 minutes after standing up. Nonvascular and vascular deaths during the follow-up period were recorded. Data on diseases, symptoms, medications, the results of clinical examinations and tests, functional ability, and health behavior were collected at the beginning of the follow-up period. RESULTS: Of the sample, 30% had OH: the prevalence of systolic OH 1 minute and 3 minutes after standing up was 22% and 19%, respectively; that of diastolic OH 1 minute and 3 minutes after standing up was 6% for each. No differences in the occurrence of nonvascular deaths were found according to any of these definitions. By Cox multivariate regression analysis, the hazard ratio of vascular death associated with a diastolic BP reduction of 1 mm Hg 1 minute after standing up was 1.02 (P=.03), adjusted for systolic BP postural changes at 1 and 3 minutes and a diastolic BP change at 3 minutes. Adjusted for other significant factors associated with vascular death, the hazard ratio for vascular death associated with diastolic OH 1 minute after standing up was 2.04 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-4.15). The corresponding hazard ratio for systolic OH 3 minutes after standing up was 1.69 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.80). Using a cutoff point of 7 mm Hg or greater for a diastolic BP change 1 minute after standing up, the hazard ratio for vascular death was highest: 2.20 (95% confidence interval, 1.23-3.93). By logistic regression analysis, the baseline associates of diastolic OH 1 minute after standing up were dizziness when turning the neck (odds ratio [OR], 2.44), the use of a calcium antagonist (OR, 2.31), the use of a diuretic medication (OR, 2.29), a high systolic BP (OR, 2.23), and a low body mass index (OR, 2.26). The baseline associates of systolic OH 3 minutes after standing up were male sex (OR, 1.52), diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.92), a high systolic BP (OR, 2.91), and a low body mass index (OR, 1.68). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of diastolic OH 1 minute and systolic OH 3 minutes after standing up predict vascular death in older persons. They differ from each other in their prevalence and in several associates, suggesting different pathophysiologic backgrounds. Clinicians should prescribe vasodilating and volume-depleting medications with caution for elderly persons with diastolic OH 1 minute after standing up. Appropriate treatment of hypertension might be the best means to manage the different types of OH with poor vascular prognoses.

Aged↗

Prognosis of isolated systolic and isolated diastolic hypertension as assessed by self-measurement of blood pressure at home: the Ohasama study.

BACKGROUND: Although the clinical significance of systolic-diastolic hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension has been established, the significance of isolated diastolic hypertension has not been fully investigated. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the prognostic significance of isolated systolic and isolated diastolic hypertension as assessed by self-measurement of blood pressure (BP) at home (home BP measurements), which has a better reproducibility and prognostic value than casual BP measurements in the general population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We obtained home BP measurements for 1913 subjects aged 40 years or older, then followed up their survival status (mean, 8.6 years). We classified the subjects into the following 4 groups according to their home BP levels: systolic-diastolic hypertension, isolated systolic hypertension, isolated diastolic hypertension, and normotension. The prognostic significance of each type of hypertension for the risk of cardiovascular mortality risk was investigated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for possible confounding factors. RESULTS: The risk for isolated systolic hypertension and systolic-diastolic hypertension were significantly higher than the relative hazard for normotension, while isolated diastolic hypertension was associated with no significant increase in risk. Home pulse pressure measurement was also independently associated with an increase in the risk of cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated diastolic hypertension, as assessed by home BP measurements, carried a low risk of cardiovascular mortality, similar to that found in subjects with normotension, suggesting that the prognosis of hypertension would be improved by treatment focused on systolic rather than on diastolic home BP measurements. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the clinical significance of pulse pressure as assessed by home BP measurement. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3301-3306.

Adult↗

Coronary MR angiography during peak-systole: work in progress.

The purpose of this study is to compare the quality of images of coronary arteries obtained with two-dimensional breath-hold coronary MR angiography during peak systole and mid diastole. Two-dimensional coronary MR angiography was performed in eight normal volunteers at peak systole and in mid diastole with a commercial 1.5-T MR imager. An ultrafast gradient-echo sequence with incremented flip angle series and k-space segmentation was used. The image quality grade, length, and proximal diameter of each visualized coronary artery were measured. The highest quality images in systole and diastole were compared. Coronary MR angiography provided high quality images in systole and diastole in 14 of 16 coronary vessels (87.5%). In 8 of 14 vessels (57%), there was no visible coronary MR angiogram image degradation when comparing peak systolic with mid-diastolic images. In 4 of 14 vessels (29%), there was mild MR image degradation. There was significant MR image degradation in only one case (7%). And in one case (7%), there was mild image improvement during systole. The width and length of the visualized coronary vessels did not change significantly from diastole to systole. Existing two-dimensional breath-hold coronary MR angiography provides MR images during peak systole and mid-diastole with little or no perceptible difference in quality.

Adult↗

Use of a conductance catheter to detect increased left ventricular inotropic state by end-systolic pressure-volume analysis.

The slope of the left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship is thought to be a load-independent index of contractile state. However, clinical application requires a practical technique to simultaneously measure pressure and volume in man. We used a left ventricular conductance catheter to derive the left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship over a range of arterial pressures during nitroprusside infusion and washout in 14 patients, and to characterize the effect of dobutamine, a positive inotropic drug. End-systole was defined as the maximum pressure-to-volume ratio. Dobutamine (5 micrograms/kg/min) increased the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship in 11 of 14 patients, the mean slope increasing by 43% from 1.4 +/- 0.1 to 2.1 +/- 0.2 mm Hg/% end-diastolic volume (p less than 0.01). In 12 of 14 patients there was a leftward and upward shift of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship with dobutamine. T quantitate this shift, we derived left ventricular pressure at control end-systolic volume before and after dobutamine. Dobutamine increased the mean end-systolic pressure at control end-systolic volume in 12 of 14 patients, the average increased by 37% from 134 +/- 10 to 189 +/- 23 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). We conclude that the conductance catheter can be used in man to detect a drug-induced change in left ventricular contractile state. This technique may be useful in the evaluation of drugs with positive inotropic actions, and in assessing the response of individual patients to positive inotropic agents.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Congenital goitrous hypothyroidism: discordant systolic time intervals, pituitary and peripheral responses to high daily doses of T4 or T3 therapy.

Left ventricular performance was studied by a noninvasive technique through the measurement of the systolic time intervals (total eletromechanical systole, left ventricular ejection (LVET) time, preejection period (PEP) and PEP/LVET ratio (Systolic Quotient) in 8 young adults with congenital goitrous hypothyroidism. All subjects showed lengthening of PEP, shortening of LVET and an increased PEP/LVET ratio associated with low serum T3 and T4, an exaggerated TSH response to TRH, high levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and carotene. They were treated with increasing L-T4 at monthly intervals (100, 200 and 400 micrograms daily), followed by L-T3 (50 and 200 micrograms daily) after stopping medication for another month. Systolic time intervals and the systolic quotient promptly reversed to the normal range with physiologic L-T4 (100 micrograms) or L-T3 (50 micrograms) replacement, but the TSH peak response to TRH was still present and exaggerated. Further reductions of the systolic quotient occurred with 200 micrograms L-T4, but not with supraphysiological doses (400 micrograms L-T4 or 200 micrograms L-T3) of thyroid hormones. The highest dose of L-T3 (200 micrograms/day) induced a significantly lower mean systolic quotient than 400 micrograms L-T4 daily, while 5 patients still had a significant TSH response to TRH. This was interpreted as discordant pituitary and cardiac response to L-T3 and L-T4 therapy. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were considered as very sensitive index of thyroid hormone peripheral action. These had a significant positive correlation with changes in the left ventricular performance. Serum carotene, although decreasing significantly with L-T4 or L-T3 treatment, had no significant correlation with the systolic quotient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Clinical trials in isolated systolic hypertension.

Isolated systolic hypertension affects 8% to 15% of all people older than 60 years of age. In the elderly, systolic hypertension is the major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Three placebo-controlled outcome trials on antihypertensive drug treatment of this disorder have been published. This article briefly reviews the main findings of each of these three trials and presents pooled estimates of the benefit of antihypertensive drug treatment for elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension. A total of 11, 825 patients were enrolled in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP, n = 4736), the Systolic Hypertension in Europe (Syst-Eur, n = 4695), and the Systolic Hypertension in China (Syst-China, n = 2394) trials. The outcome results of these trials were pooled by calculating the common odds ratio for active versus placebo treatment. The pooled results of the outcome trials in older patients with isolated systolic hypertension prove that antihypertensive drug treatment must be prescribed if, on repeated measurement, systolic blood pressure is 160 mm Hg or higher.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Importance of preoperative hypertrophy, wall stress and end-systolic dimension as echocardiographic predictors of normalization of left ventricular dilatation after valve replacement in chronic aortic insufficiency.

To define and compare predictors of postoperative normalization of diastolic left ventricular dimension after aortic valve replacement, echocardiographic indexes of left ventricular size, function, degree of hypertrophy and systolic wall stress were examined in 43 patients with chronic and 14 with acute aortic insufficiency. In all of the latter 14 patients, left ventricular diastolic dimension returned to normal (mean 5.2 +/- 0.4 cm) in the postoperative follow-up period (mean 8.0 months). In contrast, of those with chronic insufficiency, 28 (group A) had postoperative normalization of diastolic dimension whereas the remaining 15 (group B) had persistent enlarged diastolic dimension. Preoperative end-systolic dimension, diastolic radius/thickness ratio, mean radius/thickness ratio, mean wall stress and end-systolic stress were 84 to 93 percent accurate in predicting normalization versus persistence of left ventricular dilatation postoperatively, and were superior to preoperative end-diastolic dimension and shortening fraction. Postoperatively, group A had complete normalization of end-systolic dimension and of mean and end-systolic wall stresses with persistence of a normal shortening fraction. Group B continued to have increases in end-systolic dimension, mean wall stress and end-systolic stress with a reduction in shortening fraction. Postoperatively there was a 43 and 29 percent incidence rate of heart failure and death by heart failure, respectively, in group B versus none in group A (p less than 0.01). These findings support the concept that inappropriate hypertrophy in chronic aortic insufficiency is associated with progressive increases in wall stress and end-systolic dimension and a reduction in shortening fraction that eventually result in irreversible cardiac dilatation and failure. Accurate and clinically relevant determination of reversible and irreversible alterations in left ventricular size and function may be obtained with these echocardiographic indexes.

Adolescent↗

Rate-corrected mean velocity of fiber shortening-stress at peak systole as a load-independent measure of contractility.

The relation of mean velocity of fiber shortening-stress at end-systole is a good load-independent index of left ventricular contractility, but involves simultaneous M-mode echocardiography, carotid tracing and blood pressure determination, which may be impractical in children. As stress at peak systole and end-systole are closely related, this study examined whether the relation of mean velocity of fiber shortening-stress at peak systole could be used as a simpler method of assessing left ventricular contractility in a normal population of children. In addition, the cross-sectional normal range for a pediatric population was obtained. In 25 normal children aged 4 to 17 years (mean age 11), rate-corrected mean velocity of fiber shortening (MVCFc), stress at peak systole (sigma PS), and end-systolic stress (sigma ES) were determined using echocardiography, carotid pulse tracing and blood pressure measurement. Six patients with cardiomyopathy (mean age 8 years) were also studied. The relation of stress at peak systole and end-systolic stress was sigma PS = 1.004 sigma ES + 12.0 (r = 0.91, SEE = 4.98; p less than 0.001) for the normal group, and sigma PS = 1.083 sigma ES + 7.7 (r = 0.99, SEE = 4.07; p less than .001) for the cardiomyopathic group. This slope of the regression line was slightly higher and the difference was statistically significant. The slope of MVCFc = 0.0066 sigma PS + 1.55 (SEE = 0.131, r = -0.52) was nearly identical to that of MVCFc = 0.0065 sigma ES + 1.46, (SEE = 0.135, r = -0.46), with no difference in the regression coefficients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation derived from single beat analysis is not always sensitive to positive inotropic stimuli in humans.

Single beat estimation of the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation assumes symmetric left ventricular pressure increase and decay and requires extrapolation of peak isovolumic developed pressure (Pmax) from the left ventricular pressure curve of an ejection contraction. To test the sensitivity of this slope to positive inotropic stimuli, biplane cineangiocardiography and simultaneous high-fidelity left ventricular pressure measurements were performed in 50 patients with heart disease. The end-systolic pressure-volume relations were assessed under baseline conditions and during norepinephrine infusion (n = 19) or after postextrasystolic potentiation (n = 24), or both (n = 7). Norepinephrine did not change left ventricular end-systolic volume despite significant elevations of end-systolic pressure. Postextrasystolic potentiation significantly decreased end-systolic volume in association with an unaltered left ventricular end-systolic pressure. The potentiation significantly decreased the pressure half-time of contraction, an index of the speed of the left ventricular pressure increase, while it increased the pressure half-time of relaxation, an index of the speed of the pressure decline, indicating asymmetric pressure increase and decay. The slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation increased from 3.3 to 4.4 mm Hg/ml/m2 (p less than 0.001) during norepinephrine infusion. In contrast, despite an augmented contractility, the slope decreased significantly from 3.2 to 2.4 mm Hg/ml/m2 (p less than 0.0001) after the potentiation. The slope showed a high correlation with Pmax (r = 0.86, p less than 0.0001, n = 107). Thus, the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation derived from single beat analysis is not always sensitive to inotropic interventions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular structure and diastolic filling in elderly subjects with borderline isolated systolic hypertension (the Framingham Heart Study).

Abnormalities in left ventricular (LV) structure and function have been shown in patients with diastolic hypertension and recently in subjects with isolated systolic hypertension. The purpose of this study was to determine whether abnormalities of cardiac structure or function are present in elderly subjects with borderline isolated systolic hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure [BP] between 140 and 159 mm Hg, and diastolic BP < 90 mm Hg). Ninety-one subjects (mean age 77 years) from the original Framingham Heart Study with untreated borderline isolated systolic hypertension, who were free of cardiovascular disease, were compared with 139 normotensive (BP < 140/90 mm Hg) subjects (mean age 76 years). Measurements included M-mode values for LV structure, and 6 Doppler indexes of LV diastolic filling. Subjects with borderline isolated systolic hypertension and the control group differed in mean systolic (147 vs 125 mm Hg) and diastolic (76 vs 70 mm Hg) BP. Borderline systolic hypertension was the most frequent form of untreated hypertension in this elderly group. The sum of LV wall thicknesses (septum+posterior wall) was significantly higher in borderline hypertensive subjects than in normotensive ones (20.5 vs 19.7 mm; p = 0.002). No difference was detected in LV internal dimension or systolic function. After adjustment for age and other clinical variables, comparisons between the groups revealed significant differences in indexes of Doppler diastolic filling. Peak velocity of early filling, and the ratio of early to late peak velocities were lower in the hypertensive group (40 vs 44 cm/s [p = 0.03] and 0.69 vs 0.76 [p = 0.01], respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Cardiac size and function during adrenocorticotropic hormone-induced systolic systemic hypertension in infants.

The effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on systolic blood pressure, and echocardiographic indexes of heart size and function were investigated in 14 infants. After 25 days (range 13 to 46) of treatment with ACTH, systolic blood pressure increased from 93 +/- 9 to 118 +/- 20 mm Hg (p < 0.001; mean +/- 1 SD). Systolic hypertension (systolic blood pressure greater than the 95th percentile for age) developed in 10 of 14 infants and was associated with an increase in left ventricular (LV) shortening fraction from 41 +/- 5% to 52 +/- 8% (p < 0.001). Myocardial hypertrophy and an increase in echocardiographic indexes of myocardial contractility were observed also. To assess the temporal relation between the onset of systolic hypertension and these cardiac changes, data from 8 infants with serial echocardiograms and blood pressure determinations were examined. After a mean 14 days (range 8 to 18) of ACTH, LV shortening fraction increased from 39 +/- 6% to 53 +/- 8% (p < 0.01), whereas systolic blood pressure remained normal in 7 of 8 infants. In addition, a decrease in LV end-systolic dimension was observed during this early phase. This report documents myocardial changes in individual patients, which occur before and during the development of systolic hypertension.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Isolated systolic hypertension in Evans county--I. Prevalence and screening considerations.

Studies suggest that isolated hypertension involves pathophysiological change different from essential hypertension; while clinical trials of drug treatment of isolated systolic hypertension are underway, little is known of its descriptive epidemiology. This paper reports characteristics of isolated systolic hypertension in biracial Evans County, Georgia, 1967-69. Isolated systolic hypertension was rare below age 40, but the percent prevalence increased greatly at older ages. Defining isolated systolic hypertension as diastole blood pressure (DBP) less than 95 and systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than 160, age-adjusted percent prevalence at ages 40 and above were 9.6, 10.6, 15.1, and 18.3 for white males, black males, white females, and black females respectively. Percent prevalence declined to 4.8, 6.3, 9.7, and 12.7 in the four race/sex groups when a DBP cutoff of 90 was used. Unlike essential hypertension, percent prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension varied more by sex than by race: it was 60-100% higher in females than in males and only 10--30% higher in blacks than in whites. Percent prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension for the second and third of three BP readings (one clinic visit) increased compared to the first reading, the reverse of what is usually found for essential hypertension. DBP variability was relatively greater than SBP variability and probably accounted for the changes in percent prevalence. These data support clinical studies indicating isolated systolic hypertension is a distinct syndrome. This condition, shown to be a risk factor for death and disease in other studies, was common at older ages and may increasingly become health problem as the population ages.

Adult↗

Prolonged abnormalities of left ventricular diastolic wall thinning in the "stunned" myocardium in conscious dogs: time course and relation to systolic function.

Myocardial reperfusion after reversible ischemia is known to be associated with prolonged abnormalities of systolic contractile function (myocardial "stunning"). However, no information is available regarding the recovery of diastolic function in the stunned myocardium in the conscious state. Accordingly, 10 conscious dogs instrumented with pulsed Doppler thickening probes underwent a 15 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 7 days of reperfusion. Regional systolic function was assessed as net systolic thickening fraction. Left ventricular regional diastolic properties were estimated from two variables: the mean rate to half end-diastolic thinning and the late diastolic thinning fraction. Both indexes of diastolic function remained severely impaired after restoration of flow. In general, the recovery of the mean rate to half end-diastolic thinning and of the late diastolic thinning fraction paralleled the recovery of systolic thickening, but the impairment of the mean rate to half end-diastolic thinning was more marked than that of the late diastolic thinning fraction. At 4 h of reperfusion, the values for the mean rate to half end-diastolic thinning and the late diastolic thinning fraction (expressed as percent of baseline) were 57 +/- 5% (p less than 0.001 versus baseline) and 79 +/- 7% (p less than 0.05), respectively, whereas systolic thickening fraction averaged 52 +/- 10% (p less than 0.001). At 24 h, the mean rate to half end-diastolic thinning and the late diastolic thinning fraction were no longer significantly different from baseline, whereas systolic thickening fraction remained decreased at 82 +/- 4% (p less than 0.001) and returned to control values by 48 h. This study demonstrates the presence of profound, prolonged abnormalities of regional diastolic wall thinning after a brief episode of ischemia in the conscious state and expands the concept of myocardial stunning from the traditional notion of impaired systolic performance to that of a global derangement in mechanical function that involves both systolic and diastolic properties.

Animals↗