Features of arterial hypertension patients with discrepancies in vectorcardiographic and echocardiographic conclusions about the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy

Aim. To determine the features of patients with arterial hypertension (AH) with a discrepancy of electrocardiographic, including vectorcardiographic (VCG) and echocardiographic conclusions about the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Materials and methods. 140 patients with AH were examined (mean age 59.8±12.0 years, 33.6% of men). The Sokolov- Lyon criterion, the Cornell product, the sum of the amplitudes of the R wave in lead X and the S wave in lead Z of the synthesized vectorcardiogram (RX+SZ) and the amplitude of the maximal QRS vector (MQRS) were analyzed. Left ventriclular myocardial mass (LVMM) was calculated using the ASE formula, LVMM/height2.7 more than 44 g/m2.7 in women and more than 48 g/m2.7 in men was considered a criterion for LVH.Results. In patients with AH, pathological RX+SZ and MQRS values were significantly more frequent compared with the Sokolov-Lyon criterion and the Cornell product. Pathological values of RX+SZ and MQRS were met both in patients with an increased and with a normal indexed LVMM. Patients with "true-positive" VCG findings compared with "false-negative" had significantly larger values of the relative wall thickness, LVMM and indexed LVMM. Patients with “false positive” VCG findings compared with “true-negative” were more likely to have left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (90% and 68%, respectively). Patients with the presence of VCG criteria for LVH, both with normal and with an increased indexed LVMM, were characterized by higher values of systolic blood pressure and higher values of the QRS duration. Conclusion. In patients with arterial hypertension, pathological values of vectorcardiographic indices were significantly more frequent compared with the Sokolov-Lyon criterion and the Cornell product. VCG indices allowed to separate groups of patients with the presence and absence of diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, as well as groups of patients with normal and elevated values of systolic blood pressure.