Detection of exercise induced changes in left ventricular performance by Doppler echocardiography

A study was performed to test the hypothesis that Doppler echocardiographic measurement of ascending aortic blood flow can detect exercise induced changes in left ventricular performance during exercise in patients suspected of having ischaemic heart disease. Acceleration and peak velocity of flow and stroke volume were determined by non-imaging Doppler echocardiography in the suprasternal notch in 38 patients as they underwent simultaneous exercise radionuclide ventriculography. The patients were divided into four groups: group 1 had resting ejection fractions greater than or equal to 50% and increased their ejection fractions greater than or equal to 5% during exercise; group 2 had resting ejection fractions of greater than or equal to 50% but the ejection fraction either fell or rose less than 5% during exercise; group 3 had resting ejection fractions less than 50% but the ejection fraction rose greater than or equal to 5% during exercise; and group 4 had resting ejection fractions less than 50% and the exercise ejection fraction either fell or rose less than 5% during exercise. Acceleration, velocity, and stroke volume all rose significantly during exercise in group 1. Acceleration also increased in group 2 but to a lesser extent; velocity and stroke volume did not increase. In group 3 acceleration and velocity increased but to a lesser extent than in group 1; stroke volume did not increase. In group 4 velocity increased slightly during exercise but acceleration and stroke volume were unchanged. Doppler echocardiography thus appears capable of detecting exercise induced changes in left ventricular performance and can identify normal and abnormal responses, as defined by radionuclide ventriculography.     

Left and right ventricular function during symptom-limited exercise in patients with isolated mitral stenosis

Ventricular function during exercise in patients with mitral stenosis has not been widely studied. Accordingly, 20 patients with isolated mitral stenosis were assessed during supine, symptom-limited equilibrium radionuclide ventriculographic studies. All patients had a normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction at rest (greater than or equal to 50 percent), and all were in sinus rhythm. Left ventricular ejection fraction rose (p less than 0.001) from 64 +/- 9 percent at rest to 74 +/- 11 percent during exercise. This normal response was due solely to a decrease (p less than 0.01) in exercise LV end-systolic volume. A significant (p less than 0.01) decrease in end-diastolic volume during exercise limited the increase in ejection fraction during exercise. The decrease in end-diastolic volume during exercise caused stroke volume to remain unchanged; cardiac output rose according to heart rate alone. Right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction did not rise with exercise due to an increase in end-systolic volume. With exercise, LV end-diastolic volume was smaller (p less than 0.05) with severe mitral stenosis compared to mild mitral stenosis. With exercise, RV ejection fraction was decreased (p less than 0.05) with severe compared to mild mitral stenosis. In conclusion, LV function during exercise is normal in patients with normal resting LV ejection fraction. A decrease in LV diastolic filling with exercise prevents a rise in stroke volume, and cardiac output increases by heart rate alone. With, exercise, RV ejection fraction does not rise, due to an increase in RV end-systolic volume.     

Cardiac performance in thyrotoxicosis: analysis of 10 untreated patients

This study attempts to define cardiac performance at rest and during exercise in patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis. We studied 7 women and 3 men, aged 23 to 59 years (40 +/- 10, mean +/- standard deviation [SD]) and compared the results with those obtained in 12 normal subjects. In patients with thyrotoxicosis, the rhythm was sinus and the only untoward symptom was palpitations; the resting electrocardiographic results were normal in 8 patients and showed left ventricular hypertrophy in 2 patients; the left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes (measured by radionuclide ventriculography) were normal at rest. During exercise, 1 patient had dyspnea and 7 had leg fatigue; 2 were asymptomatic. Also, 7 patients had greater than or equal to 5% increase in left ventricular ejection fraction, 2 had no change, and 1 had a decrease. In all 10 patients, the exercise ejection fraction was greater than or equal to 60%. All normal subjects had a greater than or equal to 5% increase in ejection fraction during exercise. There were no significant differences at rest between patients with thyrotoxicosis and normal subjects in blood pressure, ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, end-systolic volume, or cardiac output, but the heart rate was significantly higher in patients with thyrotoxicosis (91 +/- 10 versus 80 +/- 12 beats/min, p less than 0.05). During exercise, there were no significant differences between patients with thyrotoxicosis and normal subjects in blood pressure, end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, end-systolic volume, or cardiac output. The exercise ejection fraction was significantly lower in patients with thyrotoxicosis than in normal subjects (68 +/- 10% versus 75 +/- 4%, p less than 0.05). Cardiac performance is normal at rest in patients with thyrotoxicosis, but during exercise abnormal left ventricular reserve occurs in some patients.     

Comparison of left ventricular function and contractile reserve after successful recanalization by thrombolysis versus rescue percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

To determine how coronary reperfusion affects rest and exercise ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 63 patients with a patent infarct artery after intravenous thrombolytic therapy (lysis) were compared with 27 patients who failed thrombolysis but had successful acute recanalization by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) as a "rescue" procedure. Contrast ventriculography was performed acutely and on day 7. Resting radionuclide ventriculography was performed at 24 hours and repeated with exercise on day 30. There were no differences in global ejection fraction (EF) between the 2 groups during acute contrast ventriculography. However, by 24 hours, the EF had deteriorated in the rescue group (40 +/- 17 vs 49 +/- 11% in the lysis group, p less than or equal to 0.05). No improvement occurred in either group on day 7. By day 30, an improvement in resting radionuclide EF 5.9 +/- 1.9% occurred in rescue patients and the difference between rescue and lysis groups was no longer significant (46 +/- 14 vs 50 +/- 11%, p = 0.12). A normal (greater than or equal to 5%) increase in EF with exercise occurred in 64%, with either normal or exercise-enhanced regional wall motion present in 67% of patients. A significant increase in EF occurred within the rescue group, from 46 +/- 14% at rest to 50 +/- 15% at peak exercise (p less than or equal to 0.0005). The EF increased with exercise from 50 +/- 11 to 58 +/- 15% in the lysis group (p less than or equal to 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Dipyridamole radionuclide ventriculography: a test with high specificity for severe coronary artery disease

Ventricular dysfunction induced by dipyridamole would be evidence of myocardial ischemia in patients with limited ability to undergo standard exercise testing. Radionuclide ventriculography before and after intravenous dipyridamole infusion was compared with the results of exercise radionuclide ventriculography in a prospective study of 31 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Among these patients, 21 (68%) had significant coronary artery disease (greater than or equal to 50% stenosis), 19 (61%) had severe coronary disease (greater than or equal to 70% stenosis) and 10 (32%) were "normal" (less than 50% stenosis). The left ventricular ejection fraction was calculated, and regional wall motion was scored on a 6 unit scale. In the normal patients, the ejection fraction (+/- SEM) increased 5.6 +/- 2% (units) during exercise and 7.9 +/- 1 units after dipyridamole (both p less than or equal to 0.004 compared with that during rest). However, in patients with coronary artery disease, the ejection fraction failed to increase during exercise or after dipyridamole. In the patients with coronary artery disease, regional wall motion decreased by 4.1 +/- 0.5 units during exercise (p less than 0.003) and by 1.8 units after dipyridamole (p less than 0.02). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated general comparability between the sensitivity and specificity of exercise and dipyridamole ventriculography, with "optimal" operating points that favored choosing high sensitivity for the former and high specificity for the latter. Specific subsets of patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis were analyzed with use of these criteria. In patients with severe stenosis (greater than or equal to 70%), the sensitivity of dipyridamole ventriculography was 67% compared with 89% for exercise ventriculography. However, at these levels of sensitivity, the specificity of dipyridamole ventriculography was 92% compared with 67% for exercise ventriculography. In this and other subsets of patients, the specificity of dipyridamole ventriculography exceeded that of exercise ventriculography. Thus, it is concluded that dipyridamole radionuclide ventriculography is moderately sensitive and highly specific for detecting severe coronary atherosclerosis. This technique provides a widely applicable, useful alternative to exercise ventriculography in the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis in patients who have limited exercise tolerance.     

Effect of beta-blockade on right ventricular performance in patients with and without right ventricular dysfunction due to coronary artery disease

To assess the effects of beta-blockade on right ventricular performance in patients with and without right ventricular dysfunction due to coronary artery disease, we performed radionuclide ventriculography on eight patients with normal right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF greater than or equal to 35%) and 14 patients with mild to moderate right ventricular dysfunction (RVEF less than 35%) at rest. All patients had chronic stable angina pectoris, and nine patients had prior myocardial infarction. Radionuclide ventriculography was performed on placebo and during clinical beta-blockade (heart rate, 50 to 60 beats per minute and less than or equal to 20% increase in heart rate over baseline during stage I treadmill exercise, Bruce protocol) with the oral, cardioselective beta-blocking agent, betaxolol. The resting RVEF (mean +/- 1 SD) was 33% +/- 7% on placebo and 34% +/- 7% during clinical beta-blockade. Mean exercise RVEF was 40% +/- 8% on placebo and 39% +/- 8% during clinical beta-blockade. These differences were not statistically significant. Resting left ventricular ejection fraction ranged from 22% to 60% (mean, 42% +/- 8%). On placebo, one of eight patients with a resting RVEF greater than or equal to 35% had a normal exercise RVEF response (greater than or equal to 5% increment) whereas nine of 14 patients with resting RVEF less than 35% had normal exercise response. The discordant relationship between baseline RVEF and exercise response on placebo became less marked during clinical beta-blockade. We conclude that beta-blockade does not produce significant deterioration of right ventricular systolic function or right ventricular reserve either in patients with normal or in those with mild to moderately impaired resting right ventricular systolic function.     

Effect of isotonic exercise training on left ventricular volume during upright exercise

To determine the changes in left ventricular volume and their time course during exercise we studied 30 runners. Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were measured from biapical two-dimensional echocardiograms recorded during graded upright bicycle exercise. The validity of this echocardiographic technique was assessed by comparing measurements at rest and exercise with results obtained by gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography in 10 patients with coronary artery disease. Although the absolute volume measurements were lower by echocardiography, ejection fraction was not significantly different and the directional changes in volume during exercise were comparable. In the runners, resting left ventricular end-diastolic volume measurements by echocardiography correlated with their maximum bicycle exercise endurance times (r = .80). Left ventricular end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, and ejection fraction increased during exercise with the most marked changes occurring in the first half of exercise. Systolic blood pressure/end-systolic volume (SBP/ESV) also increased during exercise, but the largest change occurred during the second half of exercise. Left ventricular volumes were larger in the 12 competitive marathon runners (maximum exercise duration greater than or equal to 27 min) as compared with the 18 noncompetitive runners (exercise duration less than or equal to 23 min): resting end-diastolic volume 130 +/- 29 (SD) ml vs 87 +/- 20 ml (p less than .001), respectively. During exercise the competitive runners exhibited a larger increase in end-diastolic volume and the noncompetitive athletes showed a greater increase in SBP/ESV. Therefore, highly trained competitive marathon runners make greater use of the less energy-consuming Frank-Starling mechanism to accomplish high levels of isotonic exercise performance as compared with less well-trained runners.     

Variables predictive of good functional outcome following thrombolytic therapy in the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction phase II (TIMI II) pilot study

Before commencing the randomized Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction phase II (TIMI II) study, 370 patients were administered intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) within 4 hours of onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and assigned to 2-hour (immediate) percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 33), 18- to 48-hour (delayed) angioplasty (n = 288) or no angioplasty (n = 49) in a nonrandomized, observational pilot study. Left ventricular ejection fraction at rest and during exercise was assessed by gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography at hospital discharge and again at 6 weeks. At hospital discharge, ejection fraction averaged 50% at rest and 56% at peak exercise. At 6-week follow-up, ejection fraction averaged 50% at rest and 53% at peak exercise. At 6-week follow-up, resting ejection fraction average 49% in the 2-hour angioplasty group, 49% in the 18- to 48-hour angioplasty group and 55% in the no-angioplasty group. Variables independently predicting "good functional outcome" at 6-week follow-up (survival with resting ejection fraction greater than equal to 50% and no decrease with exercise) in the 18- to 48-hour angioplasty group were fewer leads with ST-segment elevation greater than or equal to 0.1 mV, younger age, rapid normalization during rt-PA infusion of ST segments or dramatic relief of chest pain, absence of arrhythmias within the first 24 hours of treatment initiation, no prior infarction and not a cigarette smoker at entry. Thus, the TIMI II pilot study demonstrates that most patients with AMI of less than or equal to 4-hour duration treated with rt-PA have good ventricular function after AMI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of severity of mitral stenosis on left and right ventricular function at rest and during exercise

Few studies have assessed the effect of severity of mitral stenosis (MS) on ventricular function. Using equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography to measure ejection fraction and volume changes, 63 patients were studied during supine, symptom-limited exercise. To more carefully assess the 12 patients with MS and impaired left ventricular function, 2 groups of patients were formed. Group I (n = 51) had a normal (less than 50%) resting left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and group II (n = 12) had an abnormally low (less than 50%) resting LVEF. Both groups were divided into mild (greater than 1.4 cm2), moderate (1.1-1.4 cm2) and severe (less than 1.0 cm2) MS. There were no differences in mean rest or exercise LVEF for group I. Exercise LVEF increased significantly (p less than 0.05) from rest with mild MS, but not with moderate or severe MS. The decrease in exercise LVEF was due to a decrease in exercise end-diastolic volume of 9 +/- 23% and 15 +/- 18% for moderate and severe MS, respectively. Exercise end-systolic volume decreased normally for all degrees of MS severity. Exercise right ventricular (RV)EF did not increase for any degree of MS severity due to an increase in end-systolic volume. All patients in group II had an RVEF of less than 40%. For this group, severity of MS had no effect on resting LVEF and the response to exercise was similar to group I. We conclude that in patients with MS, resting LVEF is unaffected by MS severity whereas exercise LVEF decreases with increased severity of MS due to impaired diastolic filling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The relation between myocardial ischemia and the ejection fraction response to exercise in patients with normal or abnormal resting left ventricular function

This study examines the relation between myocardial ischemia and the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) response to exercise in patients with normal or abnormal resting EF. We studied 69 patients aged 25 to 78 years (mean 52 years) by radionuclide ventriculography (at rest and during peak upright exercise) and by exercise thallium-201 imaging. In 27 patients with resting EF less than 50%, the EF response to exercise was normal (greater than or equal to 5% increase) in 13 patients and abnormal in 14. The thallium scans showed reversible defects in 11 of the 14 patients (79%) with abnormal response but none in any of the patients with normal responses (p = 0.0001). In the 42 patients with resting EF greater than or equal to 50%, the EF response to exercise was normal in 23 and abnormal in 19. Reversible defects were present in 13 of the 19 patients (68%) with abnormal response and in only 3 of 23 patients (13%) with normal response (p = 0.0001). Therefore, an abnormal EF response to exercise was seen in 11 of 11 patients with resting EF less than 50% and in 13 of 16 patients (81%) with resting EF greater than or equal to 50% who had reversible thallium defects; normal EF responses were seen in 13 of the 16 patients (81%) with resting EF less than 50% and in 20 of 26 patients (77%) with resting EF greater than or equal to 50% who had no reversible thallium defects. Thus, in patients with abnormal resting LV function an abnormal EF response to exercise suggests the presence of myocardial ischemia rather than a nonspecific response to stress.     

Clinical evaluation of cardiac function by ambulatory ventricular scintigraphic monitoring (VEST): validation and study of the effects of nitroglycerin and nifedipine in patients with and without coronary artery disease.

Global left ventricular function and ECGs were continuously monitored by radionuclide ambulatory ventricular function monitoring (VEST) and validated against multigated blood pool analysis (MUGA) and left ventriculography in 26 subjects (study 1). Ejection fraction by VEST (Y) showed good correlation with Y = 5.5 +/- 0.79 X (r = 0.91), Y = 1.7 +/- 0.86 X' (r = 0.91), and Y = 11.6 + 0.68 X" (r = 0.82) to sitting and supine MUGA and left ventriculography, respectively. In study 2 left ventricular function and ECGs were evaluated at rest and during exercise without any drug (control), with nitroglycerin, and with nifedipine in 21 patients with coronary disease (group I) and six normal subjects (group II). In group I abnormal ejection fraction responses (exercise increase less than or equal to 6%) during the control exercise period were found in 15 patients (71%), ST segment abnormalities in seven (33%), and chest pain in four (18%). Control exercise increased end-diastolic volume (100 to 112 +/- 8%) and end-systolic volume (53 +/- 15% to 63 +/- 22%) and decreased the ejection fraction (47 +/- 15% to 43 +/- 21%). The ejection fraction during exercise increased after nitroglycerin (50 +/- 22%) or nifedipine (54 +/- 21%) (p less than 0.05). In group II the ejection fraction was unchanged between rest and exercise with or without nitroglycerin or nifedipine. Thus combined radionuclide and ECG monitoring by VEST could detect changes in left ventricular function at rest and during exercise over a prolonged period and demonstrated that nitroglycerin and nifedipine improved cardiac function in the ischemic setting with an increased ejection fraction in the upright position.     

Abnormal exercise hemodynamics in cardiac allograft recipients 1 year after cardiac transplantation. Relation to preload reserve

The well-established elevation in left ventricular filling pressures during exercise in patients after transplantation may contribute to decreased exercise tolerance. A proposed mechanism for this increase in filling pressures is an abnormal pressure-volume homeostasis of the transplanted heart. Twenty-three patients undergoing routine 1-year evaluations performed supine bicycle exercise during right heart catheterization. Within 24 hours, these patients underwent supine bicycle exercise to the identical work load during radionuclide ventriculography. For the group, resting hemodynamics and resting left and right ventricular ejection fractions were normal. With exercise, right atrial and pulmonary wedge pressure rose markedly (from 6 +/- 2 to 14 +/- 7 mm Hg, p less than 0.0001, and from 10 +/- 3 to 20 +/- 6 mm Hg, p less than 0.0001, respectively). Left ventricular ejection fraction increased appropriately with exercise (from 0.58 +/- 0.08 to 0.63 +/- 0.07, p = 0.004). End-diastolic volume also increased mildly (from 100 +/- 31 to 117 +/- 39 ml, p = 0.001), but change in end-diastolic volume was highly variable. Patients with little or no change in end-diastolic volume with exercise had the greatest resting and exercise left ventricular filling pressures resulting in significant negative correlations between filling pressures and change in end-diastolic volume (r = -0.64, p = 0.002 and r = -0.50, p = 0.025, respectively). Negative linear relations between exercise left ventricular filling pressures or resting heart rates and donor to recipient body weight ratio (r = -0.35, p = 0.10, and r = -0.37, p = 0.06, respectively) suggested that initial donor heart size influenced subsequent cardiac function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Association between the exercise ejection fraction response and systolic wall stress in patients with chronic aortic insufficiency

We studied the exercise ejection fraction response in 56 patients with chronic aortic insufficiency. All had left ventricular dilatation but preserved resting ejection fraction and minimal or no symptoms. The exercise ejection fraction increased by 0.05 units or greater in 18 (32%) patients (group I), remained within 0.05 units of the resting value in 18 (32%) patients (group II), and fell by 0.05 units or greater in 20 (36%) patients (group III). There were no significant differences among the groups in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, end-systolic dimension, or fractional shortening by echocardiography or in resting left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by radionuclide angiography. Left ventricular end-systolic wall stress was significantly higher in group III than in either group I or group II (89 +/- 20 vs 70 +/- 18 and 69 +/- 17 X 10(3) dyne/cm2; p less than .005). At peak exercise there were no differences among groups in systolic blood pressure. However, end-systolic volume increased from 65 +/- 28 to 77 +/- 36 ml/m2 in group III and fell from 50 +/- 21 to 28 +/- 18 ml/m2 in group I during exercise. Thus, at peak exercise end-systolic volume was nearly three times greater in group III than in group I. Although stress could not be determined directly during exercise, the directional changes in its determinants suggest that it also would have been higher in group III patients. A highly significant inverse correlation was present between the ejection fraction response and the change in end-systolic volume (r = -.87, p less than .0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of exercise on left ventricular systolic function and reserve in morbid obesity

To assess the effect of exercise on left ventricular (LV) systolic function and reserve in morbid obesity, radionuclide left ventriculography was performed before and during supine, symptom-limited bicycle exercise in 23 patients whose body weight was greater than or equal to twice their ideal body weight. Echocardiography was performed before exercise. Resting LV ejection fraction was depressed in 13 patients and LV mass was increased in 10 patients. Exercise produced nonsignificant increases (of similar magnitude) in mean LV ejection fraction in the subgroups with normal and depressed resting LV ejection fraction. Exercise produced a significant increase in LV ejection fraction from 54 +/- 8 to 65 +/- 12% (p less than 0.005) in the subgroup with normal LV mass, but produced no significant change in LV ejection fraction in the subgroup with increased LV mass (53 +/- 10 at rest, 50 +/- 12% during exercise). Moreover, the LV exercise response (change in LV ejection fraction during exercise) in the subgroup with normal LV mass was significantly different from that in the subgroup with increased LV mass (p less than 0.005). There was a strong positive correlation between LV mass and the percent over ideal body weight (r = 0.912, p = 0.01) and a strong negative correlation between LV mass and LV exercise response (r = 0.829, p = 0.01). The results suggest that increased LV mass predisposes morbidly obese patients to impairment of LV systolic function during exercise.     

Effect of captopril on myocardial ischemia, intracardiac hemodynamics and regional left-ventricular contractility in patients with stenocardia]

Technetium-99m pertechnetate equilibrium ventriculography was used to evaluate the effects of captopril in a single dose of 50 mg on the changes in ST segment depression during the identical bicycle ergometer exercise, as well as on systemic and regional hemodynamic parameters in 10 patients (mean age 52 years) with Functional Classes II-III exercise-induced angina pectoris. During exercise performed 45 and 90 minutes after captopril, ST segment depression decreased by 30 +/- 0 (p less than 0.05), and 32 +/- 10% (p less than 0.02), respectively as compared to baseline ST segment displacement. Following 90 minutes after the drug administration, end-systolic volume reduced both at rest and during exercise, resting stroke volume increased from 71 +/- 4 to 76 +/- 4 ml (p less than 0.01), whereas exercise stroke volume rose from 69 +/- 3 to 74 +/- 3 ml (p less than 0.03); with the drug, ejection fraction showed a 5% increase (p less than 0.02) at rest and a 4% increase (p less than 0.02) on exercise. Thus, captopril had a beneficial effect on the hemodynamics and reduced myocardial ischemia in patients with exercise induced angina.     

Effect of oral propranolol on rest and exercise left ventricular ejection fraction, volumes, and segmental wall motion in patients with angina pectoris. Assessment with equilibrium gated blood pool imaging.

The effect of oral propranolol on left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular volumes, cardiac output, and segmental wall motion was assessed with multigated blood pool imaging both at rest and during supine exercise in 15 patients with angina pectoris. Propranolol had no effect on resting left ventricular ejection fractions. Before propranolol, they did not change during exercise, whereas after propranolol the ejection fractions increased slightly. Exercise left ventricular ejection fractions increased with propranolol in three patients with resting left ventricular ejection fractions of less than 40 per cent. More specifically, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, end-systolic volume index, stroke volume index, and cardiac index were not altered significantly at rest or during exercise by propranolol. Exercise left ventricular ejection fractions were increased in five and unchanged in eight patients by propranolol. Those patients with increases in left ventricular ejection fractions had a greater change in left ventricular end-diastolic volume indices and a greater change in left ventricular end-systolic volume indices during exercise while on propranolol. Left ventricular segmental wall motion was not altered significantly during exercise by propranolol. We conclude that: (1) Left ventricular functional responses to propranolol during exercise are heterogeneous and not easily predicted; (2) propranolol causes no consistent deterioration in exercise left ventricular ejection fraction even in patients with resting ventricular ejection fractions less than 40 per cent; (3) increased exercise left ventricular ejection fraction with propranolol is contributed to by significant increases in end-diastolic volume during exercise; and (4) gated blood pool imaging is a useful method for characterising rest and exercise left ventricular ejection fractions and left ventricular volumes during propranolol therapy.     

Measurement of aortic regurgitation by Doppler echocardiography

In an attempt to develop a new approach to the non-invasive measurement of aortic regurgitation, transmitral volumetric flow (MF) and left ventricular total stroke volume (SV) were measured by Doppler and cross sectional echocardiography in 23 patients without aortic valve disease (group A) and in 26 patients with aortic regurgitation (group B). The transmitral volumetric flow was obtained by multiplying the corrected mitral orifice area by the diastolic velocity integral, and the left ventricular total stroke volume was derived by subtracting the left ventricular end systolic volume from the end diastolic volume. The aortic regurgitant fraction (RF) was calculated as: RF = 1 - MF/SV. In group A there was a close agreement between the transmitral volumetric flow and the left ventricular total stroke volume, and the difference between the two measurements did not differ significantly from zero. In group B the left ventricular total stroke volume was significantly larger than the transmitral volumetric flow, and there was good agreement between the regurgitant fractions determined by Doppler echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography. Discrepancies between the two techniques were found in patients with combined aortic and mitral regurgitation or a low angiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (less than 35%). The effective cardiac output measured by Doppler echocardiography accorded well with that measured by the Fick method. Doppler echocardiography provides a new and promising approach to the non-invasive measurement of aortic regurgitation.     

Measurement of aortic regurgitation by Doppler echocardiography.

In an attempt to develop a new approach to the non-invasive measurement of aortic regurgitation, transmitral volumetric flow (MF) and left ventricular total stroke volume (SV) were measured by Doppler and cross sectional echocardiography in 23 patients without aortic valve disease (group A) and in 26 patients with aortic regurgitation (group B). The transmitral volumetric flow was obtained by multiplying the corrected mitral orifice area by the diastolic velocity integral, and the left ventricular total stroke volume was derived by subtracting the left ventricular end systolic volume from the end diastolic volume. The aortic regurgitant fraction (RF) was calculated as: RF = 1 - MF/SV. In group A there was a close agreement between the transmitral volumetric flow and the left ventricular total stroke volume, and the difference between the two measurements did not differ significantly from zero. In group B the left ventricular total stroke volume was significantly larger than the transmitral volumetric flow, and there was good agreement between the regurgitant fractions determined by Doppler echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography. Discrepancies between the two techniques were found in patients with combined aortic and mitral regurgitation or a low angiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (less than 35%). The effective cardiac output measured by Doppler echocardiography accorded well with that measured by the Fick method. Doppler echocardiography provides a new and promising approach to the non-invasive measurement of aortic regurgitation.     

The value of rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography as compared to echocardiography and angiography in the detection of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation

Symptomatic patients with chronic aortic regurgitation and a left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 0.50, or forward cardiac index greater than 2.5 l/min/m2 at rest, have a much better survival rate than those with a depressed ejection fraction or cardiac index following aortic valve replacement. The annual mortality rate is approximately 2% for those with well preserved ventricular function versus 10% for those with depressed ventricular function at rest. This is in striking contrast to the situation that exists in patients with aortic stenosis, where the long-term survival is similar for those with a normal or depressed left ventricular ejection fraction or cardiac index at rest. Therefore, it would seem to be important to detect incipient left ventricular failure in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation and to intervene surgically before the left ventricular dysfunction becomes irreversible. In patients with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction at rest, maximal supine bicycle exercise testing with radionuclide ventriculography defines a group of patients with truly normal ventricular function (ejection fraction increases by greater than 0.05 ejection fraction units at peak exercise), and a group with incipient left ventricular dysfunction earlier than previously described variables (i.e., left ventricular ejection fraction at rest less than 0.50, left ventricular end-systolic volume index greater than 90 ml/m2, left ventricular end-systolic dimension greater than or equal to 5.5 cm, left ventricular shortening fraction less than or equal to 25%), and generally before the onset of symptoms.     

Prognostic implications of left ventricular function during exercise in asymptomatic patients with aortic regurgitation

Few data are available that address the prognostic implications of the response of the left ventricle (LV) to exercise in asymptomatic patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) who have normal resting LV function. Thirty-one such patients were contacted two to seven years after rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography. Eleven had had significant cardiovascular events. Event-free survival at forty-eight months was 64%. Ten of eleven events occurred in 21 patients with decline in ejection fraction (EF), but the magnitude of decline did not further separate the group with regard to prognosis. Eight events (73% of total events) occurred in the 11 patients (35% of total patients) with an EF during exercise of 0.55 or less. The short and intermediate outlook for asymptomatic patients with AR and normal resting LV function is good regardless of the response of the EF to exercise, but an exercise EF less than or equal to 0.55 does identify a relatively high-risk subset for deterioration beyond twenty-four months.