Relation between Left Ventricular Geometric Alteration and Extracardiac Target Organ Damage in Hypertensive Patients.

Abstract

To study the relation between left ventricular geometric alteration and extracardiac target organ damage in hypertensive patients. A retrospective study of 298 patients with essential hypertension was performed. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were calculated using echocardiographic data. Patients were divided into four groups based on their left ventricular geometric pattern as determined using LVMI and RWT. Each of the four left ventricular geometric patterns was associated with a different degree of extracardiac organ damage. In multivariate analysis, LVMI and RWT showed strong, significant correlation to retinal changes and increases in serum creatinine levels, respectively. Alteration of left ventricular geometry resulted in an increase in the degree of extracardiac target organ damage. Echocardiographic classification of left ventricular geometry can further stratify hypertensive patients according to risk, and possibly according to the indications for intensive treatment.