2005; 6: No.

24

HYPERTENSION AND ARRHYTHMIA

Jean-Philippe Bagueta, Serap Erdineb, Jean-Michel Malliona
From aCardiology and Hypertension Department, Grenoble University Hospital, BP 217, 38043 Grenoble cedex 09, France and
b
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Göztepe I. Orta Sok, 34 A/9 Istanbul, Turkey

Correspondence: Jean-Philippe Baguet, Cardiologie et Hypertension artérielle, CHU de Grenoble - BP 217, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France, tel
+334767654.40, fax 334767655.59, [email protected]

Introduction rapid or if there is some underlying problem with left ventricular

Arrhythmia-both atrial and ventricular-is a common comorbidity function (either systolic or diastolic) (10). AF can also cause
with hypertension (HT). Underlying mechanisms are many and episodes of dizziness or even syncope. Finally, in the
various, including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial Framingham study, a correlation was observed between AF and
ischemia, impaired left ventricular function and left atrial enlarge- mortality in both sexes, and this independently of other variables
ment. Any form of arrhythmia may be associated with LVH but (11).
ventricular arrhythmia is more common as well as being more
dangerous. Treatment of atrial arrhythmia
Preventing AF in hypertensive subjects depends on controlling
Atrial arrhythmia blood pressure in order to reduce the risk of hypertensive car-
Prevalence diomyopathy (or at least mitigating the consequences thereof).
After supraventricular extrasystole, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the Antihypertensive therapy has been shown to reverse some of the
next most common form of arrhythmia associated with HT. The structural cardiac changes caused by HT, including LVH and atri-
relative risk of developing AF in HT is modest compared with other al enlargement (12, 13). ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor
conditions, such as heart failure and valve disease. Nevertheless, blockers may directly reduce the chance of the recurrence of AF.
HT is the most prevalent, independent, and potentially modifiable Any potassium imbalance must be corrected. Moreover,
risk for AF (1). AF is most common after the age of 65 and in men anticoagulant therapy is essential in patients with AF. In contrast,
(2). the value of anti-arrhythmic drugs is more controversial. In prac-
Mechanisms tice, some physicians prefer to reduce the arrhythmia and then
Changes in atrial electrical properties occur early in hypertensive maintain a sinus rhythm, whereas others choose to work with the
heart disease, preceding the appearance of left ventricular and left AF by controlling the heart rate (to between 60 and 90 beats per
atrial enlargement (3). minute). Radiofrequency ablation of AF is a technique that will
Enlargement of the left atrium: Enlargement of the left atrium probably become more widespread in the near future.
results in stretching of the atrial fibers which is what leads to the
creation of arrhythmogenic foci. In the AFFIRM study, ultrasound Ventricular arrhythmia
measured a left atrium of normal size (diameter < 40 mm) in only Ventricular arrhythmia is usually triggered by simple or complex
33% of patients (1). Left atrial enlargement seems to set in before ventricular extrasystole whereas the mechanism whereby tachy-
LVH. cardia is perpetuated more usually involves a re-entry circuit.
Left ventricular hypertrophy: LVH paves the way for AF by perturb-
ing diastolic function and thereby raising the left atrial pressure (4). Arrhythmogenic factors
In the Framingham cohort, patients with an electrocardiographic Left ventricular hypertrophy: Ventricular premature complex is
diagnosis of LVH had a 3.0 to 3.8-fold increased risk of develop- more common in hypertensive subjects when there is concomitant
ing AF (5). Verdecchia et al. found that, in hypertensive subjects LVH (14, 15). The most dangerous forms of ventricular arrhythmia
with sinus rhythm and no major predisposing conditions, the risk (tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation) are still rare (16). Both the
of AF increases with age and left ventricular mass whereas incidence and seriousness of these forms correlate with the sever-
increased left atrial size predisposes to chronicization of AF (6). ity of the LVH, as measured by ECG and ultrasound (17).
Abnormal blood potassium levels: Blood potassium imbalance, Asymmetric septal and eccentric hypertrophy seem to be associ-
especially hypokalemia (iatrogenic or secondary to hyperaldos- ated more often with ventricular arrhythmia than concentric LVH
teronism) can lead to the development of supraventricular arrhyth- (18). That LVH is involved in the pathogenesis of ventricular
mia. arrhythmia is demonstrated by the fact that the incidence of the
latter drops once the former has been reversed (19).
Diagnosis and prognosis of atrial arrhythmia Myocardial ischemia: Myocardial ischemia is the most common
Whenever a hypertensive patient complains of palpitations, the arrhythmogenic factor, and this is also true in hypertensive sub-
possibility of arrhythmia-supraventricular or ventricular-should be jects. This comorbidity increases the risk of sudden death. The
considered. Definitive diagnosis depends on resting ECG or ischemia may be secondary to atherosclerosis of the major epicar-
ambulatory heart rate measurement over a period of 24-48 hours. dial coronary arteries, or due to problems in the myocardial capil-
Identifying causes may require cardiac Doppler ultrasound exam- lary system. In the hypertensive subject, there is a link between
ination (to detect LVH, impairment of left ventricular function, left the frequency and severity of arrhythmia, and myocardial
atrial enlargement or valve disease) and blood tests (potassium ischemia (be the episodes symptomatic or subclinical) (20).
levels and high-sensitivity TSH test). Impaired left ventricular function: The risk of arrhythmia in hyper-
AF has many consequences. The most dangerous is tensive patients is likewise exacerbated by impaired left ventricu-
arterial embolism, with stroke being four to five times more com- lar function (systolic or diastolic) as a result of electrical asynchro-
mon in patients with AF (7, 8). Otherwise, AF can lead to car- nism. This risk is further increased if the left ventricle is enlarged.
diomyopathy and may exacerbate pre-existing impairment of left As a general rule, at least two of the above-mentioned risk factors
ventricular function (9). The onset of AF may trigger an episode of (LVH, myocardial ischemia or impaired ventricular function) need
congestive heart failure, especially if the ventricular response is to be present for onset of the most dangerous forms of ventricular
arrhythmia in hypertensive subjects. Treatment of ventricular arrhythmia
Other factors: Circadian variations and sudden increases in blood If there is no myocardial ischemia, only the more severe forms of
pressure can trigger arrhythmia as a result of associated changes ventricular arrhythmia need positive management. However, if
in pre- and post-charge (21). Similarly, the sympathetic irritability myocardial ischemia is present, this needs to be corrected as do
which commonly accompanies HT can lead to ventricular arrhyth- frequent ventricular extrasystoles, ventricular doublets and
mia (22). Whether or not variations in blood electrolyte levels salvoes. Blood potassium abnormalities should always be treated.
(notably of potassium) also constitute an arrhythmogenic factor is Beta-blockers and amiodarone are the drugs of choice in
more controversial (16, 23). ventricular arrhythmia although calcium-channel blockers and
angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have been shown to be
Diagnosis and prognosis of ventricular arrhythmia effective against ventricular arrhythmia by virtue of their action
Positive diagnosis depends on resting ECG and ambulatory heart against LVH (19, 23). Spironolactone may also be prescribed, not
rate measurement over a period of 24-48 hours. Amplified ECG only to reverse hypokalemia but also for its antifibrotic activity in
(to detect late ventricular potentials) and programmed ventricular the ventricular myocardium. In patients with either severe ventric-
stimulation need not be performed on a systematic basis. ular arrhythmia, which has proven refractory to pharmacological
Identifying underlying mechanisms will involve carrying out exam- treatment, or profoundly impaired ventricular function, an automat-
inations to look for LVH (by ECG or ultrasound), myocardial ic implantable cardioverter defibrillator should be considered.
ischemia (ECG or ultrasound stress testing, myocardial scintigra-
phy, Holter monitoring), heart failure or some underlying metabol- Conclusion
ic problem. Both ventricular and atrial forms of arrhythmia are common in
HT is associated with an increased risk of sudden death, patients with HT. The underlying mechanisms are many and vari-
essentially due to ventricular arrhythmia (24). In patients with LVH, ous, and the most useful diagnostic information comes from
global mortality is increased if there is complex or frequent ventric- ambulatory heart rate monitoring. Arrhythmia needs to be treated
ular extrasystole, even if this is asymptomatic (25). on a case-by-case basis with objective criteria in sight.

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