Left ventricular anatomy and function in normotensive young adults with hypertensive parents: Study at rest and during handgrip

Using digitized M-mode echocardiograms, we evaluated left ventricular (LV) anatomy and function at rest and during handgrip in 24 normotensive young adults with both parents hypertensive (HP+), each matched for age, sex, body weight, and body surface area with one normotensive adult with both parents normotensive (HP−). LV parameters were within the normal range in all HP+ and HP−. At rest, HP+ as compared to HP− had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), septal and posterior wall thickness, and LV mass; LV diastolic diameter and end-systolic wall stress were similar in the two groups. Modified midwall fractional shortening, peak shortening rate of LV diameter and peak thickening rate of LV posterior wall, indices of LV systolic function, and peak lengthening rate of LV diameter and peak thinning rate of LV posterior wall, indices of ventricular relaxation, were significantly higher in HP+. Handgrip induced significant (P< .001) and percent-comparable increases of systolic and diastolic BP, heart rate, and cardiac output in HP+ and HP−; peak shortening and lengthening rates of LV diameter and peak thickening and thinning rates of LV posterior wall increased significantly in HP−, whereas in HP+ the value of the four parameters, higher at rest as compared to HP−, did not show any further increase. In conclusion, normotensive young adults with high genetic risk for hypertension have higher BP and thicker and overactive LV as compared to subjects with normotensive parents. Handgrip stimulates LV function in offspring of normotensives, but not the already hyperkinetic LV of hypertensive offspring.