Improvement of diastolic function after regression of left ventricular hypertrophy

objective: to evaluate the diastolic function after regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, in mild to moderate hypertension treated with angiotensin converting enzyme(ace) inhibitor and, if necessary, with a diuretic. methods: ninety-eight hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (lvh) and abnormal left ventricle diastolic function indexes received captopril (capotena？ ) 50 to 200 mg/day plus chlortalidone during 12 months to reach blood pressure control, defined as a diastolic blood pressure < 90 and systolic blood pressure < 140 mm hg. left ventricular (lv) mass index was calculated by m mode and two-dimensional echocardiography, and left ventricular diastolic function was assessed by transmitral pulsed doppler ultrasound every 3 months. results: sixty-three patients were women and 35 were men, mean age was 53.4 ± 8.4 years (range 34-70). thirty-six patients had mild (36.7%) and 62 (63.3%) moderate hypertension. treatment reduced significantly both systolic pressure from 165 ± 13 to 137 ± 12.9 mm hg (p < 0.05) and diastolic pressure from 99 ± 8.6 to 86 ± 6.37 mm hg (p < 0.05). lv mass index decreased from 155.4 ± 32.9 to 121.7± 29.14 g/m2 (p < 0.05). late diastolic filling velocity (a wave) and the ratio of e/a waves improved (p < 0.05), but early diastolic filling velocity (e wave) and isovolumetric relaxation time did not change with treatment. conclusions: some indexes of diastolic function improved after regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and good blood pressure control with captopril and chlortalidone.