EFFECTS OF CILAZAPRIL ON CARDIAC STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN HYPERTENSION

Peripheral vascular resistance, arterial blood pressure, and left vent ricular hypertrophy (LVH) are closely related. In systemic hypertensio n, hemodynamic changes in systolic and diastolic function accompany LV H. Both of these cardiac functions are detected with echocardiography and were measured during this study in 23 essential hypertension patie nts treated with 2.5-5 mg of cilazapril daily for 6 months. Reduction in left ventricular mass was accompanied by an improvement in early di astolic filling pattern. This change in cardiac performance with cilaz april vasodilator monotherapy was characterized by a significant impro vement in isovolumic relaxation time and normalized left ventricular e arly/atrial filling ratio.