Definition
The term "ventricular hypertrophy" refers to an exaggerated increase in the muscle mass of one or both cardiac ventricles: in most cases, this condition affects the left ventricle, which pushes oxygen-rich blood into all the anatomical sites.
Ventricular hypertrophy: clinical evidence
Overwork of the left ventricle → ↑ volume of muscle walls → ↓ myocardial elasticity → ↓ effectiveness of the heart muscle
Causes
Ventricular hypertrophy can be the immediate expression of various factors that require an overwork of the ventricle (eg hypertension): the request for such effort creates damage at the level of the cardiac walls, which progressively lose elasticity, being no longer able to pump blood like a healthy heart.
- Risk factors: peripheral cardiomyopathy (myocardial thickening), muscular dystrophy, Fabry disease (genetic disorder in which the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase is deficient), hypertension, stenosis (narrowing) of the aortic valve
Symptoms
Initially asymptomatic, ventricular hypertrophy is a subtle disease, whose symptoms become manifest when the disease is already underway: fatigue, chest pain, heart disease, dyspnea, shortness of breath, immediate tiredness after / during physical activity, perception of rapid and pounding beats, fainting, dizziness.
Information on Ventricular Hypertrophy - Drugs for Ventricular Hypertrophy Care is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Ventricular Hypertrophy - Drugs for Ventricular Hypertrophy Care.
drugs
The treatment for ventricular hypertrophy essentially consists in the recognition (and treatment) of the causes of origin: precisely as a function of the etiopathological factor, it is the duty of the physician to choose the most appropriate therapeutic option for the patient (drugs and / or surgery) .
Since the subject of the subject is really a muscle, ventricular hypertrophy can be considered an almost completely reversible phenomenon (just like it happens to the muscles): however, to reverse the pathology, it is fundamental to intervene promptly, despite the symptoms tend to manifest when the disease is already in the advanced stage.
We have analyzed that hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for ventricular hypertrophy: according to this, it is well understood that the control of blood pressure is of great interest to prevent and treat hypertrophy.
NOTE:
- In patients suffering from hypertension, the regression of ventricular hypertrophy reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems;
- Hypertension with a past history of ventricular hypertrophy will not heal definitively, since the fibrotic component - which distinguishes hypertension-dependent ventricular hypertrophy - is difficult to regress
The administration of antihypertensive drugs (in particular Beta-blockers, diuretics and ACE inhibitors) is the preferred pharmacological therapy strategy for the treatment of hypertension-dependent ventricular hypertrophy; when ventricular hypertrophy depends on a narrowing of the aortic valve, the only solution is surgery, consisting in the removal and subsequent replacement of the same with an artificial or human valve.
Thiazide diuretics : by promoting the elimination of sodium and water, these drugs are useful in ventricular hypertrophy to reduce blood volume.
Beta-blockers : they are also indicated for the prevention of ventricular hypertrophy, because they slow down the heartbeat, prevent some harmful effects of stress hormones and reduce pressure.
Here are some of the most active ingredients used in therapy for ventricular hypertrophy.
For the dosage: read the article on drugs for the treatment of hypertension
- Atenolol (eg. Atenol, Tenoretic, Tenormin)
- Metoprolol Tartrate (eg Seloken, Lopresor, Metoprolol AGE)
- Carvedilol (eg Colver)
- Bisoprolol hemifumarate (eg. Concor)
Calcium channel blockers : these drugs are also indicated in the treatment of hypertension as a precautionary form for ventricular hypertrophy: these active substances deny the entry of calcium into the cells of the heart and into the walls of blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure.
The most used calcium antagonist drugs in therapy for ventricular hypertrophy are:
- Amlodipine Besilate (eg Norvasc)
- Diltiazem (eg Altiazem, Tildiem, Diladel)
- Verapamil (eg Isoptin, Kata)
ACE inhibitors : used in therapy both for hypertension and for the prevention / treatment of ventricular hypertrophy: these drugs improve blood flow and decrease the workload of the heart. The most used in the treatment of ventricular hypertrophy are:
- Enalapril Maleato (eg. Converten)
- Lisinopril (eg. Zestril, Ensor, Nosilix)
The drugs described above, in addition to reducing hypertension, can prevent a further volumetric increase in the muscle of the ventricle, thus reducing hypertrophy.
