Correlation Between Left Ventricular Structural and Functional Changes and Coronary Artery Disease in Hypertensive Patients (Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Study)

Background: Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Spot echocardiography is a sensitive, noninvasive method to detect early regional and global myocardial dysfunction that cannot be detected with traditional 2D echocardiography visualization. Aim: To evaluate the association between structural and functional changes in the left ventricle and the burden of coronary artery disease in hypertensive patients using speckle-traced echocardiography. Patients and Methods: 60 patients underwent elective coronary angiography, all hypertensive and consented to spot-trace echocardiography. They were recruited from the catheterization unit of the Department of Cardiology at Al-Azhar University Hospital. Results: There is a statistically significant inverse relationship between SBP, DBP and GLS and a very strong inverse relationship between indicated LV mass and GLS. Regarding GLS, there is a significant difference between the different types of LV technique. With the deterioration of the LV technique, the GLS gradually decreased. GLS was significantly impaired in the group with coronary obstructions Conclusion: Echocardiography detects changes in left ventricular mechanics in hypertensive patients at a very early stage of the disease and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of the myocardial response to hypertension. A global longitudinal deformity (GLS), as assessed by 2D-STE at rest, is indicative of severe coronary artery disease.