Antihypertensive Treatment Reduces Septal Wall Thickness in Hypertensive Patients with Asymmetric Septal Hypertrophy.

Abstract

Predominant or septal hypertrophy is observed on echocardiographic examination of certain hypertensive patients. It is not yet established whether asymmetric septal hypertrophy is a particular form of hypertensive cardiopathy or is coincidentally associated with high blood pressure. We examined the effect of antihypertensive treatment on wall thickness and left ventricular mass in previously untreated hypertensive patients with either asymmetric septal hypertrophy or symmetrical wall thickening. Echocardiograms were recorded before and after 6 months of antihypertensive treatment in 112 patients. A septum/posterior wall thickness ratio over 1.3 was found in 15 of these patients. All echocardiograms were recorded by the same doctor and read blindly according to the Penn convention. Similar reductions in left ventricular mass were observed in the two groups after 6 months of antihypertensive therapy. In the group with asymmetric septal hypertrophy, the reduction was most marked in the septum. Asymmetric septal hypertrophy in hypertensive patients can be reduced by antihypertensive treatment, indicating that it is a reversible form of hypertensive cardiopathy. (Hypertens Res 1994; 17: 99-104)