Effect of exercise on left ventricular ejection fraction in men with coronary artery disease.

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured at rest and during supine bicycle exercise in 31 men with arteriographically defined coronary disease and in 15 normal men. LVEF was calculated from a left ventricular time vs activity curve (collimated scintillation probe, 99m Technetium) as the fracitonal fall in count-rate divided by the background-corrected left ventricular end-diastolic count-rate. In normal men LVEF at rest averaged .59 +/- .06 (+/-SD) and during exercise was .72 +/- .08. LVEF did not increase with exercise in men with coronary disease (.55 +/- .03 to .57 +/- .03; N = 31; AVE +/-SEM; NS). In 17 men with coronary disease who had ST segment depression with exercise, LVEF either decreased or was unaltered in all (55 +/- .04 to .49 +/- .03; P less than 0.05); whereas in 14 without ST depression, LVEF increased in 10 (71 per cent) and was unaltered in 4 (29 per cent) (.54 +/- .04 to .66 +/- .04; P less than 0.01). Results suggest that LVEF during exercise normally increases, but in men with coronary disease LVEF either fails to increase or actually decreases. In addition there appears to be a relationship between ST segment changes during exercise and ejection fraction.     

急性冠状动脉综合征患者脑利钠肽水平与左心室射血分数的相关性研究

目的观察急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)患者临床特点,探讨血浆B型利钠肽(BNP)水平与左心室射血分数(LVEF)的关系。方法选取连续入院的124例ACS患者,记录其各项危险因素,测定血浆BNP水平和LVEF,分析男性(87例)与女性(37例)患者之间、ST段抬高型ACS患者(72例)与非ST段抬高型ACS患者(52例)之间以上指标的特点;探讨BNP水平与LVEF的相关性。结果 (1)与非ST段抬高型ACS组比较,ST段抬高型ACS组中有明确高血压病史者比例较高[69.4%(50/72)比46.1%(24/52)],BNP水平较高[(314.77±69.63)ng/L比(117.20±22.73)ng/L],而LVEF较低[(54.72%±11.71%)比(64.07%±11.18%)],差异均具有统计学意义(均为P<0.05);两组患者的性别构成比(男/女:33/19比54/18)、平均年龄[(63.1±9.5)岁比(66.0±11.7)岁]、糖尿病病史[16例(30.8%)比20例(27.8%)]、血脂异常病史[4例(7.7%)比13例(18.1%)]及吸烟史[30例(57.7%)比46例(63.9%)]差异均无统计学意义(均为P>0.05);(2)女性患者患病年龄晚于男性[(69.9±8.4)岁比(62.6±11.1)岁],具有高血压病史者女性多于男性[73.0%(27/37)比54.0%(47/87)],有吸烟史者女性少于男性[16.2%(6/37)比80.5%(70/87)],BNP水平女性高于男性[(402.84±89.22)ng/L比(159.22±30.57)ng/L],LVEF则女性低于男性[(57.07%±12.67%)比(62.35%±10.82%)],差异均具有统计学意义(均为P<0.05);两组间糖尿病患者比例[25.3%(22/87)比37.8%(14/37)]、高脂血症患者比例[17.2%(15/87)比5.4%(2/37)]及非ST段抬高型ACS患者比例[37.9%(33/87)比51.4%(19/37)],差异均无统计学意义(均为P>0.05);(3)ACS患者BNP与LVEF呈负相关(r=-0.349,P<0.05)。结论 ST段抬高型ACS患者较非ST段抬高型ACS患者高血压患病率高、BNP水平高而LVEF低;女性较男性ACS患者高血压患病率高,BNP水平高而LVEF低。BNP可作为早期评估ACS患者心功能水平的指标。     

Reproducibility of the angiographic left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with coronary artery disease

Quantitative analysis of the single and repeated cine left ventriculogram was performed in 20 patients with coronary artery disease to determine both the intrinsic variance of individual beats separated by different time intervals and variance between analyses of different observers. In addition, ventriculograms obtained from left ventricular injections of contrast medium prior to coronary arteriography were compared to ventriculograms obtained from either left ventricular or pulmonary artery injections after arteriography. The time period between studies varied from 30 minutes to 90 minutes to four days. Analysis of the same ventriculogram by different observers resulted in an average difference in ejection fraction of 0.05 (pNS). The average difference in ejection fraction was 0.02 between two early beats of the same ventriculogram (pNS). The average difference between sequential ventriculograms was 0.07 (pNS), but individual variations greater than 0.10 were not uncommon, particularly between studies done before and after arteriography, or several days apart. Patients exhibiting wide variance in ejection fractions between two studies either had wide variance in other hemodynamic measurements or degree of asynergy, or both. This study provides a frame of reference for analysis of sequential ventriculograms in patients with coronary artery disease, especially in evaluating changes in the state of the disease or the effects of therapy. It is especially important that: (1) standard hemodynamic measurements be made before ventriculography, (2) the same radiographic techniques repeated whenever possible, and (3) the same person analyze the two ventriculograms.     

Impact of left ventricular ejection fraction on endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is present in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or with congestive heart failure. HYPOTHESIS: This study was performed to evaluate the impact of systolic heart function on endothelial function in patients with CAD. METHODS: The study population consisted of 283 consecutive patients (mean age 59 years, 176 men) undergoing coronary angiography. Endothelial function was assessed by measuring flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. RESULTS: Patients (n = 236) with an ejection fraction (EF) > or = 55% on routine echocardiogram were younger (mean age 58 vs. 62 years), showed a lower prevalence of diabetes (15 vs. 38%) and myocardial infarction (13 vs. 66%), and showed a higher FMD (4.8 +/- 2.4 vs. 4.0 +/- 2.0%, p < 0.05) than patients (n = 47) with an EF < 55%. The correlation coefficient between FMD/endothelial function and EF/systolic heart function was 0.149 (p < 0.02) in the overall study population. Multivariate analysis showed that of age, gender, frequency of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, and CAD extent, EF was the only significant independent parameter correlating with FMD in patients with CAD. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the other tested risk factors, EF surprisingly was the only significant independent parameter correlating with endothelial function in patients with CAD. Our results support the view that endothelial function is an independent prognostic factor in patients with CAD.     

Predictors of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

BACKGROUND: The frequency and determinants of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and reduced left ventricular (LV) function have not been thoroughly investigated. METHODS: The study population consists of 80 consecutive patients, invasively evaluated at our centre. Entry criteria were: LV ejection fraction < 45%; angiographic evidence of obstructive CAD; disease history of more than 3 months' duration. Exclusion criteria were: recent myocardial infarction and unstable angina. All patients underwent cardiac catheterization with coronary, LV and RV angiography. RV dysfunction was defined as a RV ejection fraction < 35%, which corresponds to the mean-three standard deviations of controls. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (81%) had multi-vessel disease and 57 (71%) had a previous myocardial infarction. Mean LV ejection fraction was 31 +/- 8%. Mean RV ejection fraction was 46 +/- 11%. Right ventricular dysfunction was present in 14 patients (18%). An occluded proximal right coronary artery was associated with significantly lower RV ejection fraction (38 +/- 12% versus 47 +/- 10%; P = 0.009) but not LV ejection fraction (30 +/- 8% versus 32 +/- 9%; P = 0.444). However, at multivariate analysis, only pulmonary hypertension was an independent significant predictor of RV dysfunction (P < 0.001; OR: 1.13; CI: 1.06 -1.22). CONCLUSION: Right ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic ischaemic LV dysfunction is detected in less than 20% of cases. Proximal right coronary artery occlusion is associated with a reduced RV ejection fraction. However, the role of right coronary artery disease is overwhelmed by the haemodynamic burden of pulmonary hypertension, which represents the only independent predictor of RV dysfunction in our population.     

Value of left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise in predicting the extent of coronary artery disease

To determine the relation between left ventricular performance during exercise and the extent of coronary artery disease, the results of exercise radionuclide ventriculography were analyzed in 65 patients who also underwent cardiac catheterization. A scoring system was used to quantitate the extent of coronary artery disease. This system takes into account the number and site of stenoses of the major coronary vessels and their secondary branches. The conventional method of interpreting the coronary angiograms indicated that 26 patients had significant coronary artery disease (defined as 70% or more narrowing of luminal diameter) of one vessel, 21 had multivessel disease and 18 had no significant coronary artery disease. Although the exercise left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in patients with no coronary artery disease than in patients with one or multivessel disease (probability [p] less than 0.001), there was considerable overlap among the three groups. With the scoring system, a good correlation was found between the coronary artery disease score and the exercise left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.70; p less than 0.001). If the exercise heart rate was 130 beats/min or greater or the age of the patient was 50 years or less, an even better correlation was found (r = -0.73 and r = -0.82, respectively). The exercise ejection fraction (but not the change in ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume from rest to exercise) correlated with the extent of coronary artery disease. The exercise ejection fraction is the most important exercise variable that correlates with the extent of coronary artery disease when the latter is assessed quantitatively by a scoring system rather than the conventional method of reporting coronary angiograms. Young age and greater exercise heart rate strengthened the correlation. The change in ejection fraction from rest to exercise is useful in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, but it was the absolute level of exercise ejection fraction that predicted the extent of disease.     

The impact of coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction on the prognosis of patients with peripheral artery disease

The impact of the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on the prognosis of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) has not been systematically studied. We retrospectively analysed 622 patients with PAD (intermittent claudication (IC): n = 446; critical limb ischaemia (CLI): n = 176). The association of SYNTAX score and LVEF with mortality was analysed using the Cox proportional hazard model. In patients with IC, a high SYNTAX score was significantly associated with mortality, whereas reduced LVEF was significantly associated with mortality in patients with CLI. The prognostic impact of CAD and LVEF appears different between patients with IC and CLI.     

Effects of anger on left ventricular ejection fraction in coronary artery disease.

This study examined the comparative potency of several psychological stressors and exercise in eliciting myocardial ischemia as measured by left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) changes using radionuclide ventriculography. Twenty-seven subjects underwent both exercise (bicycle) and psychological stressors (mental arithmetic, recall of an incident that elicited anger, giving a short speech defending oneself against a charge of shoplifting) during which EF, blood pressure, heart rate and ST segment were measured. Eighteen subjects had 1-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), defined by greater than 50% diameter stenosis in 1 artery as assessed by arteriography. Nine subjects served as healthy control subjects. Anger recall reduced EF more than exercise and the other psychological stressors (overall F [3.51] = 2.87, p = .05). Respective changes in EF for the CAD patients were -5% during anger recall, +2% during exercise, 0% during mental arithmetic and 0% during the speech stressor. More patients with CAD had significant reduction in EF (greater than or equal to 7%) during anger (7 of 18) than during exercise (4 of 18). The difference in EF change between patients with CAD and healthy control subjects was significant for both anger (t25 = 2.23, p = 0.04) and exercise (t25 = 2.63, p = 0.01) stressors. In this group of patients with CAD, anger appeared to be a particularly potent psychological stressor.     

右冠状动脉狭窄程度对左冠状动脉狭窄患者左室射血分数的影响

目的研究右冠状动脉不同程度狭窄对左冠状动脉狭窄患者左室射血分数（LVEF）的影响。方法根据左冠状动脉病变部位不同,将1 000例左冠状动脉狭窄患者分为左前降支（LAD）狭窄,左回旋支（LCX）狭窄,左主干（LM）狭窄,左前降支+左回旋支（LAD+LCX）狭窄4个系列。每个系列再根据右冠状动脉（RCA）病变程度不同分为RCA正常组（直径狭窄<50%）、RCA非闭塞组（99%>直径狭窄≥50%）和RCA闭塞组（直径狭窄≥99%）,比较分析3组间LVEF的差异。结果在LAD,LCX,LM,LAD+LCX狭窄时,与RCA正常组LVEF相比,RCA非闭塞组LVEF分别下降0.9%,0.3%,3.4%和2.8%;RCA闭塞组LVEF分别下降10.9%,3.7%,6.5%和5.2%。LAD狭窄时,RCA非闭塞组和RCA闭塞组之间LVEF有统计学差异（P<0.01）。结论右冠状动脉病变可在左冠状动脉狭窄的基础上使左室射血分数进一步下降;当左冠状动脉狭窄为闭塞性病变时,影响更为明显。     

Noninvasive prediction of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in patients with coronary artery disease and preserved ejection fraction

Background

The aim of this study was to compare 3 different available methods for estimating left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) noninvasively in patients with coronary artery disease and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (EF).

Methods

We used 3 equations for noninvasive estimation of LVEDP: The equation of Mulvagh et al., LVEDP₁ = 46 − 0.22 (IVRT) − 0.10 (AFF) − 0.03 (DT) − (2 ÷ E/A) + 0.05 MAR; the equation of Stork et al., LVEDP₂ = 1.06 + 15.15 × Ai/Ei; and the equation of Abd-El-Aziz, LVEDP₃ = [0.54 (MABP) × (1 − EF)] − 2.23. (Abbreviations: A, A-wave velocity; AFF, atrial filling fraction; Ai, time velocity integral of A wave; DT, deceleration time; E, E-wave velocity; Ei, time velocity integral of E wave; IVRT, isovolumic relaxation time; MABP, mean arterial blood pressure; MAR, time from termination of mitral flow to the electrocardiographic R wave; Ti, time velocity integral of total wave.)

Results

LVEDP measured by catheterization was correlated with LVEDP₁ (r = 0.52, P < 0.001), LVEDP₂ (r = 0.31, P < 0.05), and LVEDP₃ (r = 0.81, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The equation described by Abd-El-Aziz, LVEDP = [0.54 MABP × (1 − EF)] − 2.23, appears to be the most accurate, reliable, and easily applied method for estimating LVEDP noninvasively in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and an LVEDP < 20 mm Hg.     

Plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in patients with coronary artery disease and relation to clinical presentation, angiographic severity, and left ventricular ejection fraction

Comparative assessment of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) across a wide spectrum of angiographic and clinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in a consecutive series of patients has not been reported. This study examined 879 subjects (684 patients who had angiographically proved CAD and 195 controls who did not have CAD). NT-pro-BNP concentrations were measured before an angiographic procedure that allowed diagnosis of CAD and measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction and end-diastolic blood pressure. Median values (25th and 75th percentiles) of NT-pro-BNP in patients and controls were 474.5 pg/ml (162.3 and 1,542.8) and 117.0 pg/ml (60.1 and 230.6), respectively (p <0.001). In patients who had stable angina, unstable angina, and acute myocardial infarction, NT-pro-BNP concentrations were 327.7 pg/ml (129.2 and 973.2), 660.6 pg/ml (201.2 and 1,563.5), and 1,045.0 pg/ml (323.8 and 2,486.0, p <0.001). NT-pro-BNP concentrations in subgroups with 1-, 2-, and 3-vessel CAD were 385.5 pg/ml (117.2 and 1,266.0), 463.0 pg/ml (135.0 and 1,480.5), and 533.8 pg/ml (221.8 and 1,809.4), respectively (p = 0.005). Multivariable analysis showed that NT-pro-BNP was an independent correlate of the presence of CAD (chi-square 10.8, odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.13 for 100-pg/ml increase in concentration; p <0.001), acute coronary syndromes (chi-square 6.3, odds ratio 1.01, 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.02 for 100-pg/ml increase in concentration, p = 0.01) and a strong trend that was independently associated with angiographic severity (chi-square 3.68, p = 0.055). This study shows that NT-pro-BNP concentrations are high across the entire spectrum of CAD and parallel the clinical or angiographic severity of CAD.     

Cost-effectiveness of screening with B-type natriuretic peptide to identify patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of screening patients with a B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) blood test to identify those with depressed left ventricular systolic function. BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic patients with depressed ejection fraction (EF) may have less progression to heart failure if they can be identified and treated. METHODS: We used a decision model to estimate economic and health outcomes for different screening strategies using BNP and echocardiography to detect left ventricular EF <40% for men and women age 60 years. We used published data from community cohorts (gender-specific BNP test characteristics, prevalence of depressed EF) and randomized trials (benefit from treatment). RESULTS: Screening 1,000 asymptomatic patients with BNP followed by echocardiography in those with an abnormal test increased the lifetime cost of care (176,000 US dollars for men, 101,000 US dollars for women) and improved outcome (7.9 quality-adjusted life years [QALYs] for men, 1.3 QALYs for women), resulting in a cost per QALY of 22,300 US dollars for men and 77,700 US dollars for women. For populations with a prevalence of depressed EF of at least 1%, screening with BNP followed by echocardiography increased outcome at a cost < 50,000 US dollars per QALY gained. Screening would not be attractive if a diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction led to significant decreases in quality of life or income. CONCLUSIONS: Screening populations with a 1% prevalence of reduced EF (men at age 60 years) with BNP followed by echocardiography should provide a health benefit at a cost that is comparable to or less than other accepted health interventions.     

Effect of rapid atrial pacing on left ventricular ejection fraction in patients without organic heart disease

Pacing-induced decrease of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with coronary artery disease has been proposed as a sign of myocardial ischemia, whereas a slight increase or no change is speculated to be the normal response to rapid atrial pacing. The studies of the pacing-induced effects in normals, however, are of limited value, because of either inhomogeneous patient population or different, mainly non-invasive, methods for determination of LVEF. It was therefore the aim of the present study to assess the pacing-induced changes of left ventricular ejection fraction in a homogeneous group of patients. In 10 patients (mean age: 48 +/- 2 years) with normal coronary arteriograms and normal LV-function at rest, rapid atrial pacing was performed stepwise to a maximal pacing rate of 150 beats per minute. In all patients left ventricular end-diastolic pressure LVEDP and time constant of relaxation period tau decreased, while the parameter of contractility Max Dp/dt increased due to increase in heart rate. Furthermore, there was no limited coronary reserve or myocardial lactate production during atrial stimulation as a sign of pacing-induced ischemia. In all patients biplane ventriculography was performed at rest and during maximal stimulation. While end-diastolic volume index EDVI decreased in every patient (71 +/- 5----42 +/- 4 ml/m2, p less than 0.005) and systolic volume index did not change (17 +/- 2----14 +/- 2 ml/m2, N.S.), there was a significant decrease of ejection fraction from 75 +/- 2 to 66 +/- 3% (p less than 0.005). Basal heart rate, age, sex or basal ejection fraction did not influence the response of ejection fraction to rapid atrial pacing. Even after drug-induce afterload reduction there was a significant pacing induced decrease of ejection fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

导管消融术对合并左室射血分数降低的心房颤动患者左心功能的影响

目的探讨导管消融术对合并左室射血分数降低(LVEF<50%)心房颤动患者的左心功能的影响。方法本研究为前瞻性队列研究。选取2017年1月至2018年4月期间收住武汉大学人民医院的合并心力衰竭且LVEF<50%的心房颤动患者97例,根据是否行导管消融术分为手术组48例和非手术组49例。随访时间6个月,观察左心房内径(LAD)、左心室舒张末期内径(LVDD)、舒张期室间隔厚度(IVSD)、LVEF、舒张末期左心室后壁厚度(LVPWD)以及血清N末端B型利钠肽原(NT-proBNP)的水平变化。结果手术组及非手术组的年龄、性别比例、基础疾病、药物使用情况和心功能等差异无统计学意义(均为P>0.05)。随访6个月,手术组的LAD[(35.4±2.0)mm比(40.8±2.8)mm,P<0.05]、LVDD[(48.6±1.7)mm比(52.1±2.4)mm,P<0.05]、IVSD[(9.9±1.9)mm比(11.5±2.8)mm,P<0.05]、LVPWD[(10.0±0.8)mm比(11.2±0.9)mm,P<0.05]和血清NT-proBNP[(480.1±102.8)pg/ml比(1 117.8±231.4)pg/ml,P<0.05]均明显低于非手术组,而LVEF明显高于非手术组(46.8%±12.4%比44.1%±3.7%,P<0.05)。结论导管消融术可明显改善合并LVEF降低的心房颤动患者的左心功能。     

The effect of bicycle exercise and atrial pacing on left ventricular volume and function in healthy persons and in patients with coronary artery disease. An echocardiographic study

The haemodynamic response to submaximal exercise and atrial pacing in 30 healthy subjects and in 30 patients with coronary artery disease was investigated by M-mode echocardiography. In healthy subjects, the cardiovascular function after atrial pacing was not altered substantially. Exercise, however, caused a marked improvement in haemodynamics, which was due to increased myocardial contractility and diminished afterload. On the other hand, in patients with coronary artery disease, both after exercise and after atrial pacing a significant deterioration of left ventricular function was observed.     

Effect of gender on left ventricular function during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease

This study evaluated the effect of gender on left ventricular (LV) function in 84 men and 20 women with coronary artery disease (CAD) (greater than or equal to 50% luminal narrowing of one or more of the major coronary arteries). All patients underwent rest and upright exercise radionuclide ventriculography on a bicycle ergometer. There were no differences between men and women in age, hypertension, medications, and extent of CAD disease (number of diseased vessels or CAD score). Although men exercised for a longer duration than women, both achieved similar exercise heart rates and blood pressures. Angina pectoris or ST depression during exercise occurred in similar proportion in both groups. The LV ejection fraction and the systolic pressure-to-end-systolic volume ratio at rest and during exercise were similar in both men and women. Thus, men and women with comparable extent of CAD demonstrate similar manifestations of myocardial ischemia and LV dysfunction during exercise. Gender does not appear to influence LV function independent of the extent of CAD.