Right ventricular-pulmonary arterial uncoupling in mild-to-moderate systemic hypertension.

Background: Mild-to-moderate hypertension with preserved left ventricular (LV) function may be associated with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR).

Methods: The present study explored the adequacy of RV-pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling in 211 never-treated hypertensive patients (mean blood pressure, BP 112 ± 12 mmHg) and 246 controls (BP 93 ± 12 mmHg). They underwent a comprehensive transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, and RV-PA coupling was estimated by the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PASP) ratio (TAPSE/PASP).