Hypertension is a prevalent disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A distinct subgroup of patients with severe concentric left ventricular hypertrophy has been described. Unlike a morphologically similar disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, there is a paucity of data describing the natural history of these patients, the cardiac performance (both systolic and diastolic) and the effect of drug intervention. lt is the overall aim of this project to clarify these issues and compare the findings to those in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. To accomplish this goal, 30 patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, and 30 hypertensive patients with severe concentric LV hypertrophy will be evaluated using noninvasive techniques. Specifically, M-mode, two dimensional and Doppler echocardiography will be performed in all patients to determine LV mass, systolic function and diastolic filling properties. Serial evaluation of clinical status and echocardiographic data will be done every six (6) months in both groups and compared using appropriate statistical analysis. It is anticipated that data obtained from this project will more accurately describe this subgroup of hypertensive patients with severe LV hypertrophy and may be helpful in the understanding and management of these individuals.
