LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTENSION AND ITS RELEVANCE AS A RISK FACTOR FOR COMPLICATIONS

Recent research indicates that the level of left ventricular (LV) mass , commonly measured by echocardiography. reflects the combined effects of a variety of factors involved in the pathophysiology of hypertensi on, including obesity, blood pressure responses to everyday activity, high sodium intake and blood viscosity, the volume work load of the he art, and genetic factors predisposing to hypertension. Prospective stu dies indicate that LV mass is a stronger predictor of subsequent morbi d events and death than blood pressure or other conventional risk fact ors except age. Preliminary findings of close relations between LV mas s and arterial disease and between the change in LV mass during antihy pertensive treatment and subsequent events contribute to explaining th e strong predictive value of LV mass. Further research is needed to cl arify the biologic basis of these observations and to determine whethe r stratification of hypertensive patients based on their level of LV m ass can improve the treatment of hypertension.