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(Circulation. 2003;107:74.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Investigation and Reports

Incremental Value of Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization (Backscatter) in the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Myocardial Structure and Mechanics in Essential Arterial Hypertension

Vitantonio Di Bello, MD; Davide Giorgi, MD; Enrica Talini, MD; Giulia Dell’ Omo, MD; Caterina Palagi, MD; Maria Francesca Romano, PhD; Roberto Pedrinelli, MD; Mario Mariani, MD

From the Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa (V.D.B., D.G., E.T., G.D.O., C.P., R.P., M.M.), and Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (M.F.R.), Pisa, Italy.

Correspondence to Vitantonio Di Bello, MD, Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy. E-mail dibellov{at}ifc.cnr.it or vdibello@med.unipi.it

Background— Ultrasonic backscatter parameters were analyzed in hypertensive patients and divided into groups according to both severity of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (group A: no LVH [n=52]; B: mild to moderate LVH [n=55]; and C: severe LVH [n=10]) and left ventricular geometry (normal geometry [n=44]; concentric remodeling [n=8]; concentric hypertrophy [n=25]; and eccentric hypertrophy [n=40]).

Methods and Results— We studied 117 male, essential hypertensive patients and 19 normotensive, age-matched (40±5 years), healthy subjects who served as controls. Ambulatory and office blood pressure measurements were taken and 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and ultrasonic myocardial integrated backscatter (IBS) were performed. A group from the hypertensive study population (n=16) was observed after a period of pharmacological antihypertensive treatment to determine the behavior of backscatter parameters in relation to eventual regression of left ventricular mass (LVM). The cyclic variation index (CVIs) of the backscatter signal at the septum level was grouped according to each LVM level and was 29.4±9.3 (controls), 15±11 (group A), 9.5±10 (group B), and -1.5±8.6 (group C) (P<0.001). CVI septum values grouped according to left ventricular geometry were 15±11 (normal geometry), 12±7 (concentric remodeling), 7±11 (concentric hypertrophy), and 7.8±11 (eccentric hypertrophy) (P<0.01). Follow-up data demonstrate a significant reduction of LVM after therapy, as well as a significant increase in CVIs toward normal values.

Conclusions— Hypertensive patients with higher LVM had the worst prognosis; in fact, those patients had the most significant CVI alterations. Regression of LVM subsequent to chronic pharmacological therapy induces a normalization of ultrasonic backscatter parameters. Ultrasonic tissue characterization (backscatter) analysis could allow early identification of patients at risk of developing complications of hypertensive cardiopathy.

Key Words: ultrasonics • hypertension • hypertrophy • echocardiography

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