LEFT-VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC FUNCTION IN NORMOTENSIVE MEN WITH EXAGGERATED BLOOD-PRESSURE RESPONSE TO EXERCISE

The present study examined the left ventricular diastolic function in normotensive men with exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise. A stress test and a Doppler echocardiographic study were performed in 26 normotensive men: 15 men (group I) presented with an abnormal bloo d pressure response (systolic blood pressure > 210 210 mm Hg and/or di astolic blood pressure > 110 mm Hg) and were compared with 11 men (gro up II) who presented with normal blood pressure response. Subjects in group I showed a tendency to an abnormal relaxation pattern in left ve ntricular diastolic filling, that is, a lower E/A ratio (group I = 1.2 +/- 0.4, group II = 1.7 +/- 0.3; p < 0.01), a greater percentage of a trial contribution to left ventricular filling flow (group I = 46 +/- 9%, group II 36 +/- 4%; p < 0.01), a longer deceleration time (group I = 190 +/- 150 ms, group II = 110 +/- 20 ms; p < 0.05), and a longer i sovolumic relaxation time (group I = 91 +/- 10 ms, group II = 79 +/- m s, p < 0.05). Myocardial wall thickness was higher in group I: septum thickness was 0.9 +/- 0.1 mm in group I and 0.7 +/- 0.1 mm in group II , p < 0.001. The posterior wall thickness showed values similar to tho se of the septum. We conclude that an exaggerated blood pressure respo nse to exercise may be a manifestation of borderline hypertension. Car diac diastolic function may already be affected in these patients with misleading normal resting blood pressure.