Key result
Ultrasonic backscatter cyclic variation index was significantly reduced in hypertensive patients compared to controls (e.g., 15 in no LVH vs 29.4; P<0.001) and worsened with LVH severity.
Why the study?
Does ultrasonic tissue characterization (backscatter) correlate with left ventricular hypertrophy severity and geometry in patients with essential arterial hypertension?
Observational (n=136)
Does ultrasonic tissue characterization (backscatter) correlate with left ventricular hypertrophy severity and geometry in patients with essential arterial hypertension?
p-value: p=<0.001
Ultrasonic backscatter parameters correlate with the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy and geometry in hypertensive patients, and normalize with antihypertensive therapy-induced LV mass regression.
May aid noninvasive myocardial assessment in hypertension; leaves open added value beyond standard LVH measures.
BACKGROUND: Ultrasonic backscatter parameters were analyzed in hypertensive patients and divided into groups according to both severity of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (group A: no LVH [n=52]; B: mild to moderate LVH [n=55]; and C: severe LVH [n=10]) and left ventricular geometry (normal geometry [n=44]; concentric remodeling [n=8]; concentric hypertrophy [n=25]; and eccentric hypertrophy [n=40]). METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 117 male, essential hypertensive patients and 19 normotensive, age-matched (40+/-5 years), healthy subjects who served as controls. Ambulatory and office blood pressure measurements were taken and 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and ultrasonic myocardial integrated backscatter (IBS) were performed. A group from the hypertensive study population (n=16) was observed after a period of pharmacological antihypertensive treatment to determine the behavior of backscatter parameters in relation to eventual regression of left ventricular mass (LVM). The cyclic variation index (CVIs) of the backscatter signal at the septum level was grouped according to each LVM level and was 29.4+/-9.3 (controls), 15+/-11 (group A), 9.5+/-10 (group B), and -1.5+/-8.6 (group C) (P<0.001). CVI septum values grouped according to left ventricular geometry were 15+/-11 (normal geometry), 12+/-7 (concentric remodeling), 7+/-11 (concentric hypertrophy), and 7.8+/-11 (eccentric hypertrophy) (P<0.01). Follow-up data demonstrate a significant reduction of LVM after therapy, as well as a significant increase in CVIs toward normal values. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertensive patients with higher LVM had the worst prognosis; in fact, those patients had the most significant CVI alterations. Regression of LVM subsequent to chronic pharmacological therapy induces a normalization of ultrasonic backscatter parameters. Ultrasonic tissue characterization (backscatter) analysis could allow early identification of patients at risk of developing complications of hypertensive cardiopathy.
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Bello et al. (2003) conducted an observational in Essential Arterial Hypertension (n=136). Ultrasonic myocardial integrated backscatter (IBS) vs. Normotensive healthy subjects was evaluated on Cyclic variation index (CVIs) of the backscatter signal at the septum level (p=<0.001). Ultrasonic backscatter cyclic variation index was significantly reduced in hypertensive patients compared to controls (e.g., 15 in no LVH vs 29.4; P<0.001) and worsened with LVH severity.
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