Association of diastolic dysfunction of hypertensive origin with cardiac and peripheral sympathetic activity

Author(s)

Silvia Beatriz Paulino Cavasin de Souza

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD)
• Defense date: 2011-08-25

Examining board members

Fernanda Marciano Consolim Colombo; Marco Antonio Romeo Cuoco; Beatriz Bojikiam Matsubara; Vera Maria Cury Salemi; Tais Tinucci

• Advisor: Fernanda Marciano Consolim Colombo

Abstract

INTRODUTION: The hypertension (HP) is a clinical condition with high prevalence, considered as a main modifiable risk factor for developing heart failure (HF). Among the mechanism related to the progression for HP to the HF, the sympathetic hyperactivity and endothelial dysfunction should be considered. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the autonomic nervous system modulation (central and peripheral), and endothelial function in hypertensive patients with different pattern of diastolic dysfunction (DD) of the left ventricle (LV). METHOD: Forty-five hypertensive patients without comorbities were submitted to tissue Doppler echocardiography and allocated into three groups: (GHT) without cardiac functional or structural abnormalities (n=15, 7 men, 48±2 years, BMI 28±1 Kg/m2); (GDD-ar) with prior diastolic HF and impaired relaxation pattern of DD of LV (n=15, 7 men, 53±2 years, BMI 29±1 Kg/m2), and (GDD-pr) with prior diastolic HF and pseudonormal and restrictive patterns of DD of LV (n=15, 9 men, 51±2 years, BMI 27±1 Kg/m2). Normotensive healthy volunteers matched for age, sex and body mass index were also evaluated. Curves of blood pressure (BP) were recorded non-invasively and continuously (Finometer®) for 15 minutes at rest in the supine position. Simultaneously, muscle nerve sympathetic activity (MNSA) was recorded by microneurography technique. The heart rate and systolic blood pressure variability (HRV and SPBV) was estimated by FFT method. Afterwards, an evaluation of endothelial function through brachial artery ultrasound maneuver associated with reactive hyperemia and after sublingual administration of trinitrate was conducted. Statistical analysis was performed by Fishers exact test and ANOVA, the results are expressed as mean±standard deviation or median (minimum and maximum values). RESULTS: There were no differences in gender, age and BMI between the groups, as well as in the use of different classes of antihypertensive drugs among hypertensive patients. Cardiac structural parameters were similar between groups, except for LV mass in GDD-pr group [98 (66-162) g/m2] which was higher, p<0.05, when compared to the GNT group [85 (56-95) g/m2]. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was similar between GHT, GDD-ar and GDD-pr groups [(138 (110-149), 133 (104-190) e 148 (118-171) mmHg, respectively]. The GDD-ar and GDD-pr groups had higher SBP, p<0.05, when compared to GNT group [121(108-133) mmHg]. The diastolic BP was similar between groups. The groups showed similar values for cardiac autonomic modulation assessed by HRV. The peripheral sympathetic modulation represented by the LF component of SBP (SBPV, mmHg2) was increased in GDD-ar group (12,2±1,3) and GDD-pr group (11,7±1,2) compared to the GNT group (6,7±0,6), p<0.05, but not when compared to GHT group (9,3±1,1). The impairment of the baroreflex (LF alpha índex, ms/mmHg) was observed in the GDD-ar (4,6±0,6) e GDD-pr (5,07±0,7) groups compared to the GNT group (8,2±1), p<0.05, but not when compared to GHT group (6,05±0,5). MNSA (burst/min) was significantly higher in GDD-ar (33±1) e GDD-pr (32±1) groups compared to GHT group (26±1) and GNT group (15±1) p<0.05. Also the GHT group showed increased MNSA when compared to GNT group, p<0.05. The GDD-ar and GDD-pr groups showed similar values of MNSA. Regarding the assessment of endothelial function, hypertensive groups had lower endothelium-dependent dilatation, but only in GDD-ar group [0,67 (0,0-8,7)%] was statistically significant when compared to GNT group [6,3 (2,6-8,2)%]. In the evaluation of endothelium-independent vasodilatation all groups showed similar responses. CONCLUSION: The presence of diastolic dysfunction of any pattern is associated with higher MNSA and peripheral sympathetic modulation (LF SBP) and lower sensitivity of the baroreflex. Cardiac sympathetic modulation did not differ between groups at rest. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between cause-effect of such findings (AU)