Title:Systemic Hypertension in Patients with Aortic Stenosis: Clinical Implications and Principles of Pharmacological Therapy
VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Sucheta Gosavi, Rahul Channa and Debabrata Mukherjee
Affiliation:Cardiology Fellow, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine, 4800, Alberta Avenue Suite 123, El Paso, TX 79905-2709, USA.
Keywords:Aortic stenosis, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, cardiovascular risks,
hypertension, pharmacological therapy.
Abstract:The treatment of systemic hypertension (HTN) in patients with Aortic stenosis (AS)
requires a careful balance of lowering the systemic blood pressure without compromising vital organ
perfusion and worsening of the symptoms of AS. Treatment of systemic HTN is beneficial because
the combination of HTN and AS provides additional overload to the left ventricle. This leads to
secondary Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which has been shown to increase cardiovascular risks and mortality and
thus early presentation of symptoms of AS. Additionally, presence of HTN may affect the accurate assessment of AS.
Different treatment options are available, however no specific treatment guidelines have been established for patients with
concomitant AS and HTN. Improved control of HTN is the key to prevent symptom progression and inadvertent early
surgery. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) appear to be
beneficial. Reassessment of the aortic valve by echocardiography is recommended after HTN is well controlled before
deciding on aortic valve replacement (AVR).
