CARDIAC-ARRHYTHMIAS AND LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY IN SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION AND THEIR INFLUENCES ON PROGNOSIS

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the adaptative mechanism of the heart to systolic overload of the left ventricle. Nevertheless, LVH pl ays a role in some complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias. Patient s with LVH are more likely to develop ventricular arrhythmias than the hypertensive population without LVH. Further, the relation between le ft ventricular mass and ventricular arrhythmias is graded and continuo us. The arrhythmias described in hypertensive patients with LVH are us ually isolated premature ventricular contractions. The presence of ele ctrocardiographic criteria of LVH represents a risk of higher incidenc e of sudden death, especially in men. The risk is even greater in the presence of ventricular arrhythmias. The presence of late potentials h as been recently characterized us more related to ventricular arrhythm ias than LVH. Antihypertensive drugs that can reduce LVH also have a b eneficial effect on cardiovascular morbility and mortality.