Reversal of Cardiac Hypertrophy by Medical Treatment

Reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients has been proven to follow effective blood pressure control by some antihypertensive drugs. This reversal does not depend solely on the degree of pressure reduction but is also modulated by other factors including, among others, stability of blood pressure control, degree of cardioadrenergic stimulation, and individual variations due to genetic background and possible age. Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy is most likely to occur when the reduction in arterial pressure and peripheral resistance can be maintained without induced reflex cardiac stimulation. Left ventricular performance at rest was not depressed by the reduction in cardiac mass but remained normal both in absolute terms and in relation to changes in LV end-systolic stress.