Hypertension in valvar aortic stenosis
Ikram, H.; Marshall, D.E.; Moore, S.M.; Bones, P.J.
New Zealand Medical Journal 89(632): 204-207
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-8446 PMID: 286905 Document Number: 142437
The indirect arterial blood pressure in 50 cases of catheter-proven aortic stenosis without significant incompetence was examined. Defining the upper limit of normal blood pressure as 140/90mmHg, 14 percent had borderline, 18 percent had mild and 8 percent had severe hypertension. There was a significant positive correlation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure with age; ie pressures rose with age. The rate of increase was virtually identical with that of the normal population except for those over 70. Hypertension interferes with reliable clinical and haemodynamic quantitation of the valve lesion. The two lesions summate to increase the systolic burden on left ventricle.