Importance of abnormalities in coronary flow reserve to the pathophysiology of left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to hypertension

Abstract

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) appears to be a critically important risk factor for the prediction of coronary events. This is probably related to the fact that cardiac hypertrophy causes a profound decrease in coronary reserve and various electrophysiological abnormalities in hypertrophied myocytes that contribute to the pathogenesis of lethal ventricular arrhythmias. Physicians involved in the care of patients with cardiac hypertrophy need to be aware of the importance of LVH in modifying the pathophysiology of the two prevalent cardiac diseases in our society: obstructive coronary disease and systemic hypertension.