HEART-RATE AND BLOOD-PRESSURE VARIABILITY IN MILD-TO-MODERATE HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH OR WITHOUT LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY

Aim of the study : To compare heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variability in hypertensives with or without left ventricular hypertro phy (LVH). Methods : Thirty-three mild to moderate hypertensive patien ts, mean age 45+/-15 years, underwent an echocardiogram, a 24 hr ambul atory BP monitoring (ABPM), a 24 hr ECG monitoring and a continuous BP recording over 15 minutes both in supine and standing positions, by u sing digital plethysmography (Finapres device), Statistical analysis : non parametric tests. Results [GRAPHICS] LVH is associated with a red uction in the markers of sympathetic activity and a decreased barorefl ex sensitivity.