LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY REGRESSION DURING ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT IN RESISTANT HYPERTENSION PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: Objective: to determine the predictors of regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in treated resistant hypertensive (RH) patients after 2.1 ± 0.1 years of follow-up. Design and method: We studied 51 patients with RH confirmed by the office and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring despite the use of 3 antihypertensive medications for at least 3 months. During 2 years-period patients had been treated to 12-week rotations of oral daily treatment with spironolactone, nebivolol, torsemide, eplerenone, moxonidine in addition to their baseline triple-combination. Then participants continued to receive the personal most effective fourth-line agent. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 17 patients had LV mass index (LVMI) which was increased or stayed stable after 2 years (1st group), 34 patients with a reduction of LVMI in 2 years (2nd group). Results: Initially there were no significant differences in sex, duration of hypertension, body mass index, office and average 24-h ambulatory BP between the 2 groups. Compared with the 1st group patients from the 2nd group had a higher prevalence of non-dippers (24.3 vs 65 %, P < 0.001, respectively) and larger baseline LVMI (127.3 ± 4.1 vs 147.8 ± 6.5 g/m2, P < 0.01, respectively). Patients with persistent LVH included more subjects with coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease and had less baseline active renin concentration (all P < 0.05). After 2 years in both groups office and average 24-h BP levels have been reduced, but goal rates were achieved at 28.6 % patients of the 1st group and 44.1 % patients of the 2nd group (P < 0.05). Reduction in nighttime BP was greater in the 2nd group. Initial higher LVMI (β = 0.655; P < 0.0001), baseline 24-h urinary albumin excretion (β = - 0.475; P < 0.0001), active renin concentration (β = 0.442; P = 0.005) were predictors of δ LVMI in multivariate modeling. Conclusions: Regression of LVH is possible in patients with RH in case of BP control, especially at night. Baseline higher LVMI, an increase of active renin concentration, decline of urinary albumin excretion are factors that determine reversibility LVH.