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Twenty-two hypertensive patients with normal coronary arteriograms underwent a complete study of left ventricular performance. The patients were classified into three groups according to the findings on X-ray and ECG investigation: group I--ECG normal, X-ray normal (6 cases); group II--ECG showed left atrial hypertrophy, X-ray normal (7 cases); group III-ECG showed left ventricular hypertrophy, X-ray showed cardiac dilatation (9 cases). The results of this study were as follows:--cardiac ouptut was lowered in groups II and III;--end-diastolic volume was lowered in group II and raised in group III;--LVEDP was raised in groups II and III;--V max and VEC max were lower in groups II and III than in group I;--left ventricular compliance was diminished in groups I and II. Myocardial rigidity of the left ventricle was similar in the three groups. Hypertensive heart disease is therefore characterised by early changes in compliance of the left ventricle. These are associated with geometrical changes in the ventricle: disturbance of the volume/mass ratio of the left ventricle. These findings have therapeutic implications for the importance of beta-blockers.

Measurement of the blood volume in cases of essential hypertension has shown a negative correlation with increase in blood pressure. We have been able to distinguish a group of moderate hypertensives who are hypervolemic, and whose systemic effect is more marked than in the moderate hypovolemic type. Such cases respond poorly to single drug therapy with beta blockers, but well to diuretics. The authors propose a general treatment scheme for essential hypertension: single therapy (beta blockers or diuretics) in mild cases of hypertension; single therapy by diuretics in the moderate types with the increased volume; single therapy by beta blockers in the moderate types with low volume, multiple treatment with the drugs together in cases of severe hypertension.

251 untreated patients with mild to moderate hypertension were included in a multicenter study aimed 1) to detect arrhythmias (24-H Holter recording) and 2) to assess the efficacy of sotalol on blood pressure and possible arrhythmias. Patients with coronary heart disease or previously documented arrhythmias were excluded. Atrial arrhythmias such as premature beats, fibrillation, flutter and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia were detected in 16% of patients. Monomorphic ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) (Lown I and II) were detected in 41% of patients and polymorphic VPCs or duplets/triplets (Lown III and IV) in 14%. A correlation seems to exist between the level of hypertensive cardiopathy, judged on electrocardiographic data (Tarazi classification), age of patients and severity of arrhythmias. Sotalol was administered during 2 months at a mean dose of 160 mg per day. The treatment was effective on blood pressure and arrhythmias (82% improvement of severe VPCs) and the drug was well tolerated. It was difficult to conclude if these good results are due to the betablocking properties or specific class II antiarrhythmic effects of sotalol or to the combined activity.