Left ventricular hypertrophy exerts a greater effect on baroreflex deficit than arterial stiffness in a rat model of hypertension

DOI: 10.5176/2382-5669_CCMR14.12

Authors: Keith Ng, Jonathan Li and Yi Qian

Abstract:

To determine whether reduced baroreflex gain, a pathological characteristic of hypertension both in humans and in animal model, is related to cardiac or vascular remodelling. Using a quantitative approach, this paper presents experimentally, the relative contribution of each component of baroreflex function on eventual blood pressure control and how they may act as an ideal profile of action for treating resistant hypertension. Our results suggest that cardiac hypertrophy might be a more important determinant of the reflex properties in hypertension compared with a reduction in arterial compliance. Attenuating cardiac hypertrophy might be a more important target in normalising the sympathetic component of hypertension.

Keywords: left ventricular hypertrophy, arterial stiffness, baroreflex