Right ventricular–pulmonary arterial uncoupling in mild-to-moderate systemic hypertension

Background: Mild-to-moderate hypertension with preserved left ventricular (LV) function may be associated with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Methods: The present study explored the adequacy of RV–pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling in 211 never-treated hypertensive patients (mean blood pressure, BP 112 ± 12 mmHg) and 246 controls (BP 93 ± 12 mmHg). They underwent a comprehensive transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, and RV–PA coupling was estimated by the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PASP) ratio (TAPSE/PASP). Results: Compared with the controls, hypertensive patients had increased LV wall thickness and decreased trans-mitral E/A with only slight but significant increase in transmitral Doppler E wave to tissue Doppler mitral annulus e′ wave ratio (6.3 ± 1.9 vs. 5.8 ± 1. 5, P 
Source: Journal of Hypertension - Category: Cardiology Tags: ORIGINAL PAPERS: Cardiac damage Source Type: research