Long-term treatment with valsartan improved cyclic variation of the myocardial integral backscatter signal and diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients: the echocardiographic assessment.

Myocardial fibrosis is the major determinant of diastolic property of the left ventricle (LV). Experimental and clinical studies have suggested that angiotensin receptor blockers attenuate myocardial fibrosis in various heart diseases. The integrated backscatter signal (IBS) represents a promising ultrasonic method for assessing the characterization of myocardial tissue: cardiac cycle-dependent variation of the IBS (IBS-CV) is negatively correlated with myocardial collagen deposition in hypertensive hearts. Using non-invasive echocardiographic techniques, we performed a prospective, multi-center trial to examine whether long-term treatment with valsartan would improve myocardial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction in hypertensives. This study included 43 hypertensive patients who had impaired diastolic function (transmitral Doppler flow early to late filling velocity ratio [E/A ratio] <1.0) and preserved systolic function (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] >50%). Twelve-month valsartan treatment reduced blood pressure (BP) and LV mass index. Valsartan significantly increased not only IBS-CV but also E/A ratio without changing LVEF. The effects of valsartan were compared between two subgroups: one with low IBS-CV (IBS-CV <5.08 dB [the average of 43 patients at baseline]), the other with high IBS-CV (IBS-CV >5.08 dB). At baseline, BP, LV mass index, LVEF, and E/A ratio were similar in the two groups. Valsartan significantly increased IBS-CV and E/A ratio in the low IBS-CV group, but not in the high IBS-CV group, despite comparable reductions in BP and LV mass. In conclusion, long-term valsartan treatment attenuated myocardial fibrosis and improved diastolic dysfunction in hypertensives. It is suggested that in the low IBS-CV group, improvement of diastolic dysfunction by valsartan may be caused by attenuation of myocardial fibrosis, and not by regression of LV hypertrophy.