Aim of the study: Assessment of left ventricular (LV) structural modifications following etiologic treatment of secondary hypertension, in a group of 43 patients.
Patients and methods: M-Mode echocardiograms were independently analysed by 2 trained investigators before and 7.4 months (RV), 11 patients with COnn's adenoma (C) and 9 patients with phaeochromocytoma (PH).
Results: Age, sex ratio, antihypertensive treatment, and duration of hypertension before treatment were comparable among the 3 groups. Blood pressure was higher in C and RV than in PH for casual (C: 190/116; RV: 193/109; PH: 146/91; p < 0.01/0.05) as well as ambulatory blood pressure (C: 140/93; RV 153/89; PH: 126/80; p < 0.01/0.05). Before etiologic treatment, systolic function was normal in the 3 groups whereas LV mass index differed between the 3 groups (C: 147; RV: 118; PH: 85 g/m2). LV end diastolic diameter index was smaller in PH (26.4 mm/m2) than in C (29.1) and RV (28.8). After treatment, there was a significant reduction on office (C: -43/-20; RV: -39/-19; PH: -20/-12 mmHg) and ambulatory (C: -6.6/-5.6; R: -20/-9.9; PH: -4.7/- 4.5) blood pressure. Systolic function was not altered. LV mass index was significantly reduced in C and RV but not in PH (C: -18%; RV: -7%; PH: -5%). Changes in LV end diastolic diameter index were not significant (C: -2%; RV: 0%; PH: + 6%). There was no correlation between LV mass index changes and blood pressure differences.
Conclusion: Etiologic treatment leads to significant regression of LV hypertrophy in patient with renovascular hypertension or Conn's adenoma, at least partly independently of blood pressure change. Humoral and volume factors may play a role in LV regression.