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Myocardial fibrosis in arterial hypertension

A González1, B López1 and J Díezl*,1,2

a Division of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University Clinic, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
b Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Clinic, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

* Correspondence: Dr Javier Diez, División de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Facultad de Medicina, C/ Irunlarrea s/n, 31080 Pamplona, Spain.

Abstract

It is now accepted that, in addition to left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertensive heart disease is characterized by alterations in myocardial structure, leading to loss of tissue homogeneity and pathological remodelling. It is time to recognize that, in hypertensive heart disease, it is not only the quantity but also the quality of the myocardium that is responsible for adverse cardiovascular events. The data reviewed here indicate that, in patients with hypertensive heart disease, myocardial fibrosis predisposes to an enhanced risk for diastolic and/or systolic ventricular dysfunction, symptomatic heart failure, ischaemic heart disease and arrhythmias.

Key Words: Fibrosis • heart failure • hypertension • myocardium • remodelling • reparation

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