Resumen

ROMAN, Óscar; DUSSAUBAT, Ana María  y  MORENO U, Óscar. Detection of early markers for atherosclerosis in pre-hypertensive and hypertensive subjects. Rev Chil Cardiol [online]. 2011, vol.30, n.3, pp. 212-217. ISSN 0718-8560.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-85602011000300004.

Background: Several alterations of the heart and circulatory system may appear early on during the course of hypertension, both at pre-hypertension or at stage I levels. Aim: to determine the frequency of early markers of organ damage in hypertensive subjects , both treated and un-treated Methods: two groups of un-treated hypertensive subjects, pre-hypertensives (blood pressure 120-139 / 80-89 mmHg, n=17) or stage I hypertensives (140-160 / 90100 mmHg, n=47) were studied. Three concordant measurements of blood pressure were required for inclusion. Initial fundoscopic abnormalities, absence of nocturnal blood pressure dip on 24 hr Holter monitoring, presence of left ventricular hypertrophy and increased 24hr albuminuria, were determined. Results: Both groups exhibited one or more of the abnormalities being studied. Only left ventricular hypertrophy was more frequent in stage I hypertensives compared to pre hypertensives (p<0.05). Risk factors for coronary artery disease did not differ between groups. Conclusion: More than 50% of patients with pre-hypertension or stage I hypertension exhibit initial markers for atherosclerotic changes in the circulatory system, before the development of severe target organ damage.

Palabras clave : hypertension; early organ damage.