Effects of renin-angiotensin system inhibition on right ventricular function in patients with mild essential hypertension.

Introduction: Systemic hypertension is known to affect both left and right ventricular (RV) function. Little is known about the effect of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibition on global RV function in patients with essential hypertension.

Materials And Methods: Forty patients (17 male, mean age 47 ± 10 years) with mild hypertension free of cardiovascular disease were assessed by echocardiography at baseline and after nine months of antihypertensive treatment with RAS inhibitors.