Correlation of Cardiac Sympathetic Nervous System Dysfunction with Diastolic Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with Controlled Hypertension

Cardiac autonomic dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Angiotensin II and α1-adrenergic receptor agonist also induce myocardial hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in animal models [5]. The role of sympathetic dysfunction in the pathophysiology of diastolic dysfunction without heart failure among subjects treated with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is unknown. Among subjects with hypertension controlled with ACE inhibitors or ARBs, our hypothesis suggests a lower 123I-MIBG uptake and H/M ratio, and a higher washout rate (WOR) in cases with grade I diastolic dysfunction compared to cases with normal diastolic function.