EFFECTS OF LISINOPRIL ON LVH-REGRESSION IN PATIENTS TREATED FOR ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

The study was performed to assess the influence of the ACE-inhibitor l isinopril on the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy due to ess ential arterial hypertension. 22 hypertensive patients (diast. BP > 95 mmHg) with left ventricular posterior wall thickness and interventric ular septal thickness exceeding 15 mm (end-systolic) were included in the study. Measurements were performed by nuclear magnetic resonance i maging. Doppler echocardiographic investigations evaluated ejection fr action and systolic left ventricular size (short axis plane). Mean sup ine systolic blood pressure was reduced from 158.0 mmHg to 138.5 mmHg after 12 weeks of active treatment, mean diastolic blood pressure was reduced from 103.6 mmHg to 91.6 mmHg. Mean maximum reduction of septal wall thickness at this time was 2.71 +/- 1.384 mm, mean maximum reduc tion of posterior wall thickness was 3.14 +/- 2.42 mm. Ventricular siz e slightly increased from 32.5 mm to 36.2 mm, ejection fraction was in significantly reduced from 65.4% to 63.2%. ACE-inhibition with lisinop ril caused a significant reduction of left ventricular hypertrophy (LV H) demonstrated by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and a significan t reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.