Abstract
To investigate the usefulness of stress testing for the evaluation of hypertensive heart disease, 40 subjects, 28 men and 12 women (mean age 30.8 ± 6.2 years), with mild or moderate hypertension, without ST segment or T wave abnormalities in their resting ECG, were examined. 13 patients (32.5%) showed exercise-induced ST segment depression. The heart rate at rest was significantly higher in the patients with a positive response; 6 of the 7 subjects with electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy (summed SV1 + maximum R V5/V6 voltage of 45 mm or more) had a positive exercise electrocardiographic test. There were no significant differences between positive and negative cases in age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, or the double product (heart rate X systolic pressure) at rest or during exercise. After resting blood pressure values had been significantly decreased by giving methyldopa with or without diuretics for at least 6 months, there were a regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in the resting ECG and an impressive reduction in the prevalence of exercise-positive responses (to 17.5%). In the 7 patients with positive exercise electrocardiographic tests even after antihypertensive treatment, no significant reduction in blood pressure values during exercise was obtained.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 277-283 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Cardiology |
Volume | 71 |
Issue number | 5 |
Publication status | Published - 1984 |
Keywords
- Exercise blood pressure
- Hypertension
- Hypertensive heart disease
- ST segment depression
- Stress testing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology (medical)