Patients with mild hypertensive heart disease and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction: treatment with angiotensin II antagonists

Abstract

Systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflet (SAM) combined with obstruction at the left ventricular (LV) outflow tract is often observed on echocardiography in elderly hypertensive patients with severe concentric LV hypertrophy. We experienced, however, two patients with mild hypertension who had an ejection systolic murmur, SAM, and LV outflow tract obstruction with a pressure gradient of 46 and 45 mmHg, respectively, despite very mild symmetric hypertrophy of LV wall (12 mm) by echocardiography. Treatment with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker improved intraventricular obstruction and LV hypertrophy in both patients. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction should be suspected in hypertensive patients with mild LV hypertrophy, particularly in those with an ejection systolic murmur. Angiotensin II antagonists could be considered as the treatment of choice for such patients.