Does Systemic Hypertension Play an Additional Role?
Hypertension and aortic stenosis represent 2 different models of left ventricular systolic overload. Previous studies have observed different remodeling patterns in these conditions. There is, however, little information about patients with coexisting aortic stenosis and hypertension. Echocardiography was performed in 193 consecutive patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis (113 males, 80 females; mean age, 68±9 years). The prevalence of systemic hypertension was assessed. Left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness were measured from M-mode echocardiography. Four different left ventricular remodeling patterns were identified: normal remodeling, concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy. A history of hypertension was present in 62 patients (32%), whereas 131 patients were normotensive. No significant differences were found between hypertensive and normotensive patients with respect to age, male/female ratio, mean New York Heart Association cl
