Is Masked Hypertension an underlying Cause of Unexplained Left Ventricle Hypertrophy?

OBJECTIVES

Unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy (ULVH) is defined as increased wall thickness in the absence of conditions that predispose to hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of masked hypertension in patient with unexplained left ventricle hypertrophy.

METHOD: A total of 120 consecutive unexplained left ventricle hypertrophy patients without overt hypertension and diabetes and 121 healthy control subjects were included in the study. After a complete medical history and laboratory examination, patients' height, weight, waist circumference heart rate, and office blood pressure were recorded. All subjects underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and transthoracic echocardiography.

RESULTS

Mean age were similar between patients with ULVH and controls. There was no significant difference in total cholesterol, HDL, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, left ventricle ejection fraction, between the groups. Prevalence of Masked hypertension was significantly higher in patients with ULVH than controls (28.3% vs 6.6%, p < .001). Left ventricular mass index (141.9 ± 16.8 g/cm2 vs. 67.3 ± 10.3 g/cm2, p < .001) was significantly higher in masked hypertensive patients with ULVH compared to normotensive ULVH and control subjects.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we found high prevalence of masked hypertension in ULVH patients. Patients with ULVH should be screened by ABPM to detect possible masked hypertension.