Contrast stress echocardiography in hypertensive heart disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Hypertension is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiac and vascular structural and functional changes. Myocardial ischemia may arise in hypertension independent of coronary artery disease through an interaction between several pathophysiological mechanisms,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lønnebakken Mai, Rieck Åshild E, Gerdts Eva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-11-01
Series:Cardiovascular Ultrasound
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cardiovascularultrasound.com/content/9/1/33
Description
Summary:<p>Abstract</p> <p>Hypertension is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiac and vascular structural and functional changes. Myocardial ischemia may arise in hypertension independent of coronary artery disease through an interaction between several pathophysiological mechanisms, including left ventricular hypertrophy, increased arterial stiffness and reduced coronary flow reserve associated with microvascular disease and endothelial dysfunction. The present case report demonstrates how contrast stress echocardiography can be used to diagnose myocardial ischemia in a hypertensive patient with angina pectoris but without significant obstructive coronary artery disease. The myocardial ischemia was due to severe resistant hypertension complicated with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and increased arterial stiffness.</p>
ISSN:1476-7120