Objective: We sought to assess changes in the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with antecedent hypertension and an acute myocardial infarction.
Methods: A group of 38 patients with antecedent hypertension and acute myocardial infarction were compared with an age-matched nonhypertensive control group. There was a 30-day follow-up. Outcome measures were left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction, systolic velocities, and strain. Diastolic function was assessed by mitral inflow combined with tissue velocities of the mitral ring.
Results: Patients with antecedent hypertension did not experience any regression in the E/E' ratio (16.5 +/- 7.5 vs 17.1 +/- 9.0, P = not significant) or increase in the E'/A' ratio (0.76 +/- 0.5 vs 0.84 +/- 0.6, P = not significant) compared with significant improvements in E/E' ratio (18.9 +/- 8.7 vs 12.8 +/- 7.4, P < .01) and E'/A' ratio (0.76 +/- 0.5 vs 1.1 +/- 0.7, P < .01) in the control group. This was found despite similar changes ejection fraction, volumes, and systolic strain.
Conclusions: Patients with antecedent hypertension have incomplete improvement of the diastolic function compared with control subjects despite comparable left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction after an acute myocardial infarction.