Increased risk attributed to left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension.

Both left ventricular mass and left ventricular geometry have been identified as predictors of cardiovascular morbid events. Several studies have suggested that they represent independent risk factors. Studies reported in the past 1 to 2 years have challenged this concept, ie, left ventricular mass may not be a risk factor independent of actual blood pressure load, and left ventricular geometry may not be independent from left ventricular mass and other risk factors. Because of the variability in echocardiographic measurements, echocardiography provides a limited assessment of the actual left ventricular mass in an individual, and therefore of this individual's prognosis, particularly in subjects with mild to moderate hypertension. At present, careful assessment of blood pressure load remains the mainstay for assessment of prognosis of hypertensive subjects.