The relation between peripheral vascular structure, left ventricular hypertrophy, and ambulatory blood pressure in essential hypertension

The relations between left ventricular mass (LVM), peripheral resistance artery structure, and ambulatory BP were studied in 83 patients with previously untreated or poorly regulated essential hypertension and 20 healthy controls of similar age and sex. LVM was assessed by echocardiography. Signs of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were present in 67 (81%) of the patients and in none of the controls. Peripheral resistance arteries were isolated from surgical gluteal skin biopsies and mounted in a Mulvany-Halpern isometric small vessel myograph, and their media:lumen ratio, media thickness, and media cross-sectional area were determined under standardized conditions. Mean (±SD) ambulatory BP was 122 ± 9 mm Hg among patients and 96 ± 8 mm Hg among controls ( P P P v 7.9 ± 2.0% in arteries of similar internal diameter from controls ( P P P