Do coronary circulation abnormalities play
an important role in the pathogenesis
of hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy? |
Hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy
(LVH) is a powerful predictor
of coronary events. It is characterized
by coronary circulation abnormalities
such as impaired coronary
blood flow autoregulation, decreased
coronary reserve, increased minimal
coronary vascular resistance,
subendocardial underperfusion
during exercise, and increased risk
of myocardial infarction and death
in the presence of coronary occlusion.
These abnormalities appear
to play a significant role in the
pathogenesis of cardiac complications
in arterial hypertension. Although
the imbalance between coronary
supply and myocardial needs
has often been incriminated in the
pathogenesis of hypertensive LVH,
no convincing evidence has been
provided to date that LVH is the
consequence, rather than the cause,
of a primary defect of myocardial
perfusion in hypertensive patients...
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