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(Hypertension. 2006;48:e104.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Letters to the Editor

Reduction of Blood Pressure Levels Study Group

New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill/Cornell Medical School, New York, NY

An extract of the first 100% of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

To the Editor:

Smith et al¹ reported that office blood pressure (BP) was lower in subjects whose antihypertensive therapy was guided by noninvasive hemodynamics (impedance cardiography) than in subjects receiving standard care. The study, thus, documents that measurements by impedance cardiography are clinically useful.

Unfortunately, in the study, there was no measurement of home or ambulatory BP. Because both physicians and patients were aware of the use of hemodynamically guided treatment, expectation bias on the part of both physician and patient could clearly have affected office readings. A measure of home or ambulatory BP was, therefore, absolutely needed, and it is surprising that it was not included in the study design.

This trial should have been the definitive study for the clinical usefulness of impedance cardiography in managing hypertension. Without home or ambulatory monitoring, it cannot be considered definitive.

Disclosures

None.

1. Smith RD, Levy P, Ferrario CM. Value of noninvasive hemodynamics to achieve blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Hypertension. 2006; 47: 771–777.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. M. Ferrario and R. D. Smith Response to Reduction of Blood Pressure Levels Study Group Hypertension, November 1, 2006; 48(5): e105 - e105. [Full Text] [PDF]