Early impaired relaxation of the left ventricle in isolated, uncomplicated prehypertension without left ventricular hypertrophy can be detected by exercise electrocardiography

Nearly fifty percent of patients with isolated, uncomplicated prehypertension have impaired relaxation of the left ventricle even in the absences of left ventricular hypertrophy. Such early impairment of the left ventricular relaxation can be detected by exercise electrocardiography. Transient increase, in the area of the negative terminal deflection of the P wave in lead V1 (>0.04mVaec) during and/or early recovery suggested transient increase in the left atrial pressure due to unmasking of the early impairment of the left ventricular relaxation by exercise induced tachycardia.