Arterial hypertension is commonly affected left ventricular structure and function. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of arterial hypertension on right ventricular function (VD).

Betwen 2015–2016, we included 60 patients with uncontrolled hypertension and without any associated pathology (group A) and 60 controls (group B). Subjects included in the 2 groups are free from diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and pulmonary affection. Both groups have a comparable mean age and sex ratio. We evaluate morphological and functional of right ventricular (RV) for both groups.

We calculated (percentages) for the qualitative variables and averages, and standard deviations for quantitative variables. For comparing averages and percentages, the student's “t” test and the Pearson chi-square test were used and in all statistical tests the significance level was set to 0.05.

Echocardiographic data showed a significant increase in parietal thickness, left atrium diameter, left ventricular mass index in patient group A, but no significant difference in left ventricular function. The diastolic diameter of (RV), the ejection fraction of RV and the pulmonary arterial pressures are comparable between the two study groups. The systolic velocity measured at the tricuspid ring is significantly lower in hypertensive patients (8.3±8cm/s vs. 14.1±1.8cm/s, P<0.01), reflecting subclinical RV systolic dysfunction. In addition, the velocity of the protodiastolic wave of the tricuspid ring was significantly lower in group A (6,4 ±1.2cm/s vs. −13.5±2.1cm/s, P<0.03) with a low velocity ratio of protodiastolic/diastolic velocities suggesting a RV relaxation disorder.

This study shows the presence of subclinical right ventricular dysfunction in poorly controlled hypertensive patients: Tissue Doppler is a very effective tool in the early detection of these subclinical functional abnormalities.