A clinical course of coronary heart disease after pacemaker implantation and optimization of the pacing regime

AIM: To study effects of pacemaker implantation on the course of coronary heart disease (CHD) with stable angina pectoris and choice of optimal regimen of pacing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 154 CHD patients with a pacemaker were examined. All the patients had angina of effort of functional class II-IV. RESULTS: The symptoms of the disease improved in 72 (46.8%) patients (group 1): the number of anginal attacks decreased, exercise tolerance increased, the dose of antianginal medicines went down. Pain attacks became more frequent, response to nitroglycerin changed in 30 (19.5%) patients of group 2. This was explained by 1.5-2-fold enhancement of heart rate by pacemaker raising myocardial oxygen consumption and psychocardial syndrome. In 52 (33.8%) patients of group 3 anginal attacks characteristics did not change. CONCLUSION: To optimize coronary reserve, frequency of electroimpulses must be reprogrammed to adjust to a functional class of angina and chronic cardiac failure as well as pacing regime. In particular, low coronary reserve demands optimal frequency of 55-65 imp/min while congenital cardiac failure--75-85 imp/min.     

Effect of combined application of nitrogen baths and 6 month physical training on physical work capacity and extrasystole in patients with ischemic heart disease and stable stenocardia

AIM: To study effects of combined use of general artificial nitric baths and bicycle exercise for 6 months on physical performance (PP) and extrasystole (ES) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and stable angina pectoris (SAP) of functional class I-II. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 129 CHD with SAP patients entered the study. Of them, 44 patients received balneotherapy (a course of general artificial nitric baths); 37 patients took the baths and exercised on bicycle ergometer; 48 patients took the baths, exercised on bicycle ergometer in the outpatient clinic and continued the exercises for 6 months. The patients were examined with spiroveloergometry and ambulatory Holter ECG monitoring. RESULTS: The latter group of patients achieved the highest training effect manifesting with increased PP and coronary heart reserve, an antiarrhythmic effect (a 73.3% fall in the mean number of ventricular ES for 24 hours, a 72.2% one in this number of supraventricular ES). CONCLUSION: A significant efficacy is shown of combined use of general nitric baths and bicycle exercise with prolongation for 6 months in CHD patients and SAP of functional class I-II with ES.     

Local myocardial contractility in patients with coronary heart disease and chronic heart failure

The aim of the study was to evaluate the peculiarities of local left and right ventricular myocardial contractility in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and various degrees of chronic heart failure (CHF) using biventricular radioventriculography (RVG). Local left and right ventricular myocardial contractility was evaluated in 127 patients with CHD and CHF using RVG with a standard procedure of segmentary and phase histogram analysis. The patients were divided into two groups according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Group I consisted of 89 CHD patients with NYHA II-III CHF and LVEF of > 40%; group II included 38 CHD patients with NYHA III-IV CHF and LVEF of < 40%. The significant decrease of LVEF in group II was caused by the prevalence of hypo- and akinetic segments in the structure of local contractility. In both groups total LVEF was maintained by lateral wall segments. Right ventricular contractility in patients with CHD and CHF was maintained by anteroseptal segments.     

The ST-segment-dependent indices of patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and coronary failure]

As many as 40 men suffering from essential hypertension (EH) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) were examined. All the patients exercised on a treadmill according to the Cornell protocol taking into consideration the ST/HR slope and the ST/HR index, underwent echocardiography with measurements of the left ventricular mass (LVM), and coronary ventriculography. Coronary insufficiency was revealed in all the patients. Of these, 11 patients suffered from it due to associated EH and coronary heart disease (CHD), 31 had relative coronary insufficiency in the presence of associated EH and LVH phenomena with no stenosis of coronary vessels, and 7 patients showed up relative coronary insufficiency in the presence of HCMP. The ST/HR slope and the ST/HR index correlated well with the LVM and the asymmetry index of the left ventricle but in patients with associated relative coronary insufficiency and EH. In patients with associated EH and CHD, the ST-dependent parameters correlated well neither with the degree of atherosclerosis spreading nor with the LVM. This may indicate that both factors influence the gravity of coronary insufficiency at a time. In case a patient suffering from associated EH and coronary insufficiency phenomena has the ST/HR slope greater than or equal to greater than or equal to 4.5 microV/stroke/min and/or the ST/HR index greater than or equal to greater than or equal to 2.5 microV/stroke/min, it is more likely that myocardial ischemia is provoked by concomitant atherosclerosis of coronary arteries (sensitivity 28%, specificity 71%).     

Exercise and nicotinic acid delayed action drug Enduracin: application in outpatient rehabilitation of patients with ischemic heart disease

AIM: To evaluate efficacy of combined use of moderate exercise and nicotinic acid drug enduracin in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) with moderate dyslipidemia (DE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effects of exercise therapy alone, enduracin alone and their combination on physical performance (PP), hemodynamics, blood lipid spectrum and clinical course of CHD were studied in 93 CHD patients with moderate DE. The results were evaluated clinically after 1-year treatment. RESULTS: Combined used of exercise and enduracin in CHD patients showed its efficacy manifesting in improvement of PP, hemodynamics at rest and exercise test, left ventricular systolic function, clinical course, reduction of DE. Enduracin + exercise appeared more efficient than their use in monotherapy. Enduracin monotherapy had a positive action on PP, arterial pressure and anginal attacks frequency. CONCLUSION: Enduracin is recommended as monotherapy and in combination with moderate exercise in outpatient rehabilitation and secondary prophylaxis of CHD patients with moderate dyslipidemia and angina pectoris to relieve myocardial ischemia under exercise, to raise PP, improve lipid composition of blood and prevent maladaptive left ventricular remodeling.     

Trimetazidine effects on exercise tolerance and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with coronary heart disease

AIM: Trial of trimetasidine effects on exercise tolerance (ET) and left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group included 40 CHD patients. Of them 10, 18 and 12 had myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris and stable angina, respectively. 38 CHD patients of the control group had these disorders, respectively, in 5, 15 and 18 cases. 2-3-month therapy with nitrates, beta-blockers (BB) and inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was given to both groups with adjuvant trimetasidine (60 mg/d) given to patients of the study group. The effects were judged by the results of cycle exercise tests and echo-CG including the loading one. RESULTS: Adjuvant use of trimetasidine improved exercise tolerance, mean threshold capacity, LVDF. When added to BB treatment, trimetasidine reduced damage to LVDF under dipiridamol test. CONCLUSION: Trimetasidine addition to combined treatment of CHD raises exercise tolerance and improves LVDF.     

Relationship between myocardial remodeling and neurohumoral activation in patients with cardiac failure

50 healthy subjects and 685 patients with heart failure (NYHA functional class I-IV) due to coronary heart disease (CHD) aged 34-74 years (mean age 48.1 +/- 8.22 years) were examined. Cardio-hemodynamics was assessed by M- and B-echocardiography from parasternal, subcostal and apical view on a short and long axis with transmitral Doppler. Plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, aldosterone, STH, hydrocortisone were measured in the patients. Progression of cardiac failure is characterized by evolution of the left ventricular ellipse form into a ball shape primarily due to an increase in cross sectional cavity size. The changes of the left ventricular geometry in heart failure patients are combined with progressive reduction of the relative wall thickness index, intensification of the myocardial stress and impairment of diastolic function. The clearest intercoupling between myocardial remodeling and neurohumoral activation was registered in patients with asymptomatic heart failure. With growing severity of left ventricular dysfunction, plasm activity of serotonin, hydrocortisone and aldosterone increase more than levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine and STH.     

急性心肌梗死患者甲状腺激素水平与心功能及冠脉病变程度的关系

目的探讨急性心肌梗死患者甲状腺激素水平的变化与心功能和冠脉病变程度的关系。方法64例急性心肌梗死患者,据冠状动脉造影结果分为单支病变组（n=22）和多支病变组（n=42）,射血分数（EF）结果分为冠心病非心力衰竭组（n=36）和冠心病心力衰竭组（n=28）。选取同期经冠状动脉造影检查排除冠心病的30例患者为对照组。分别测定各组甲状腺激素水平和高敏C反应蛋白（hs—CRP）等。结果与对照组和冠心病非心力衰竭组相比,冠心病心力衰竭组血清三碘甲状腺原氨酸（TT3）、游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）降低（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,反三碘甲状腺原氨酸（rT3）和hs—CRP增高（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）;与单支病变组比较,多支病变患者FT3明显降低（P〈0．01）,rT3和hs—CRP增高（P〈0．05）。在校正其他因素后,FT3水平下降与冠脉病变严重程度相关（风险比为0．72,P〈0．05）。结论急性心肌梗死患者的甲状腺激素水平在心功能不全时会有改变,T13,FT3降低,rT3升高,且FT3水平与冠状动脉病变严重程度相关,因此其可作为反映心肌梗死患者病情严重程度的重要指标之一。急性心肌梗死患者hs—CRP升高,反映炎症在急性心肌梗死患者的发生、发展过程中发挥一定的作用。     

The phenomenon of intermittent myocardial ischemia and characteristics of myocardial reserve in patients with myocardial infarction

AIM: To study coronary and myocardial reserves in myocardial infarction survivors (MIS) with consideration of development of intermittent ischemia during transesophageal pacing (TEP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 320 MIS were examined 1.5-2 months after myocardial infarction onset. 30 healthy male volunteers served control. Stepwise overdrive TEP was made in all the examinees with parallel estimation of central hemodynamics by tetrapolar chest rheography with assessment of systolic and diastolic parameters. RESULTS: In the course of TEP, 39.4% MIS developed intermittent ischemia (II) at frequencies 120-140 imp/min. II presented as a significantly depressed ST segment on ECG. There was a simultaneous lengthening (1.4-fold) of diastole and a fall (1.5-fold) of end-diastolic pressure in the left ventricle (EDP). At frequencies 140-160 imp/min the length of the diastole shortened while EDP rose. CONCLUSION: The II phenomenon demonstrates a key role of coronary reserve. Changes in coronary and myocardial reserves during TEP in II development are interrelated. They may represent unknown adaptive mechanisms of the myocardium protecting against unfavourable outcomes of ischemic episodes.     

Total and effective coronary blood flow in coronary and noncoronary heart disease

There are no data available concerning total coronary blood flow to the whole heart (CBF) in man. "Effective" or "nutrient" coronary blood flow to the whole heart (MBF), supposedly a measure of flow through exchanging channels of the coronary circulation, has been measured but its validity has not been established. Accordingly, CBF and MBF were measured in 9 normal subjects, 26 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), and 19 with noncoronary, mostly valvular heart disease (NCHD), by coincidence counting 84Rb technique. Two methods were used: single bolus (24 cases) and continuous infusion (30 cases). Various other parameters including myocardial oxygen utilization (MVO2) and lactate extraction ratio were determined. In the normal subjects CBF (386 +/- 77 ml/min) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in CHD (288 +/- 124 ml/min) and NCHD (292 +/- 111 ml/min). Likewise the normal MBF (380 +/- 81 ml/min) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in CHD (251 +/- 105 ml/min) as well as NCHD (258 +/- 104 ml/min). The myocardial Rb extraction ratio epsilon Rb) was significantly lower in normal subjects (39 +/- 9%) than in CHD (50 +/- 7%) and NCHD (52 +/- 11%) and this supports the view that epsilon Rb is flow-dependent. In both CHD and NCHD there was significant diminution of MVO2 as well as CBF. In CHD this was accompanied by a significant anaerobic trend but in NCHD it was not. It might therefore appear that in CHD, MVO2 is determined by perfusion whereas in NCHD, perfusion is determined by MVO2. In comparing CBF with MBF by paired observation testing, there was no significant difference in the normals (P > 0.3), whereas the differences were significant in CHD (P < 0.01) and NCHD (P < 0.02). This was merely a reflection of a reduced ratio of myocardial to total body epsilon Rb in CHD and NCHD, and available evidence indicates that this may be an expression of depressed transport of Rb+ rather than true shunting.     

多普勒超声心动图运动负荷试验对老年冠心病患者左心室储备功能的评价

］　Purpose　To investigate left ventricular systolic and diastolic reserved function of normal aged and aged subjects with coronary heart disease (CHD) under submaximal stress conditions. Methods　89 subjects (young healthy 20,aged healthy 31,aged CHD 38) performed submaximal supine bicycle exercise with electrocardiography,ultrasonic cardiography and 99m-Technetium imaging exercise testings done synchronously.The aortic and mitral flow patterns were recorded by Doppler echocardiography. Results　The percent changes in aortic variables of systolic function of aged healthy subjects were much lower than those of young healthy subjects,and much higher than those of aged CHD patients.After exercise,the A/E ratio increased in young group,while decreased in aged healthy and CHD groups. Conclusion　Under submaximal stress conditions,the cardiac systolic reserved function was obviously decreased in aged healthy subjects,and much lower in aged CHD patients.The changes of left ventricular filling patterns in healthy aged and aged CHD groups might suggest an elevation in left atrial pressure and decreased cardiac diastolic reserved and left atrial compensatory functions.     

Noninvasive assessment of myocardial functional reserves in young women with nonspecific aortoarteritis and aortic arch syndrome

AIM: To study functional myocardial reserve in patients with nonspecific aortic arteritis (NAA) and aortic arch syndrome (AAS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Myocardial functional reserve was studied in 42 patients with NAA using ECG, spiroveloergometry, section and doppler echocardiography, radionuclide ventriculography. Healthy nonsportswomen served control. RESULTS: ECG revealed left ventricular hypertrophy in most of the patients, spiroveloergometry showed low exercise tolerance in many NAA patients. Echocardiography detected differences in patients vs controls by diastolic thickness of the interventricular septum, left ventricular myocardial mass and aortic diameter. As shown by radionuclide ventriculography, 75% of NAA patients with predominant affection of the aortic arch branches had disturbed ventricular function. CONCLUSION: 84% of NAA patients with AAS at veloergometry exhibited signs of transitory myocardial ischemia. Hemodynamic changes at exercise demonstrated low coronary reserve. Silent myocardial ischemia is typical for NAA patients.     

Results of dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with Syndrome X

This study describes the results of Dobutamine stress echocardiography in 10 patients with Syndrome X. The diagnosis of Syndrome X was made on the basis of the presence of exertional angina, positive exercise stress test, negative ergonovine stress test and normal coronary arteries at angiography. All patients underwent Dobutamine stress echocardiography after interruption of any antianginal therapy. Dobutamine was infused starting with a dose of 5 mcg/kg/min over 3 minutes with incremental steps of 5 mcg/kg/min every 3 minutes up to a maximal dose of 40 mcg/kg/min. Two-dimensional echocardiography and 12-lead electrocardiography was monitored during the infusion of the drug. Nine patients received the maximal dose while one patient prematurely stopped the test for the occurrence of side effects. None of the ten patients developed segmental left ventricular wall motion abnormalities indicative of myocardial ischemia; ST-segment depression diagnostic for ischemia developed in 30% of patients; angina was elicited in one of these patients and in two additional patients. A hyperkinetic response to Dobutamine infusion involving all the segments of the left ventricle was observed both in patients with and without chest pain or electrocardiographic changes. In patients with Syndrome X Dobutamine induces a hyperkinetic left ventricular response indicative of normal contractile reserve despite the presence in some cases of angina and electrocardiographic signs of ischemia.     

组织多普勒超声心动图评价冠心病患者心室舒张功能

目的采用组织多普勒技术观察冠心病患者心室舒张功能的改变及左室和右室舒张功能的关系。方法研究24例正常健康人和20例冠心病患者,应用多普勒超声技术测量二尖瓣口及三尖瓣口舒张期血流速度;应用组织多普勒超声技术测量二尖瓣环一左室侧壁交界处及三尖瓣环一右室侧壁交界处心肌运动频谱。测量二尖瓣及三尖瓣舒张早期血流速度（E）、舒张晚期血流速度（A）及E／A,心肌舒张早期运动速度（Em）、晚期运动速度（Am）及Em／Am,测量E／Em。结果与正常组比较,冠心病组左室舒张期二尖瓣血流速度E／A显著减小（P〈0．01）,三尖瓣血流E／A亦显著减小（P〈0．01）;组织多普勒所测左右心室Em、Am、Em／Am均减小（P〈0．01）,E/Em增大（P〈0．01）;冠心病组左室与右室间E/Em比值高度相关（r=0．83）。结论冠心病患者的左室舒张功能异常,伴有右室舒张功能的改变,右室与左室舒张功能的改变相关。应用组织多普勒和频谱多普勒联合评价心室舒张功能,纠正了频谱多普勒评价心室舒张功能出现的假正常现象。     

多排螺旋CT评估老年冠心病患者的冠状动脉病变严重性与左心室收缩功能

目的探讨多排螺旋CT（MDCT）在评估老年冠心病中的应用价值。方法选取2018年1月~2020年2月在我院治疗的老年冠心病患者110例,在我院行MDCT、超声心动图及冠状动脉造影（CAG）检查,以CAG为“金标准”,分析MDCT诊断价值,比较MDCT和超声心动图测量左室射血分数（LVEF）、左室舒张末期容积（LVEDV）、左室收缩末期容积（LVESV）、左室心肌质量（LVMM）、左室每搏输出量（LVSV）和左室短轴缩短率（LVFS）差异。结果MDCT诊断灵敏性、特异性、准确性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为93.80%、93.49%、93.73%、97.98%和81.77%;与超声心动图比较,MDCT测量LVEF、LVEDV、LVESV、LVMM、LVSV和LVFS差异无统计学意义（P < 0.05）;MDCT测量,高度狭窄患者LVEF、LVSV和LVFS低于轻度狭窄和中度狭窄患者（P < 0.05）,而LVEDV、LVESV和LVMM高于轻度狭窄和中度狭窄患者（P < 0.05）;Gensini评分与LVEF、LVSV和LVFS呈负相关（r=-0.433、-0.412、-0.422,P < 0.05）,与LVEDV、LVESV和LVMM呈正相关（r=0.410、0.366、0.378,P < 0.05）。结论MDCT在老年冠心病诊断中有较好的价值,其可准确评估左心室功能,与冠状动脉狭窄程度有关。      

Clinical and functional assessment of electric heart instability in patients with painless myocardial ischemia

Markers of electric myocardial instability were studied in 82 patients during painless episodes of coronary heart disease (CHD). Clinical examination was supplemented by 12-lead ECG, 24-hour ECG monitoring, functional tests, echocardiography, signal-averaged ECG, recording of LVP, analysis of cardiac rhythm variability, and assessment of ventricular repolarization time. It is concluded that a combination of 24-hr ECG monitoring and functional tests (veloergometer) is indispensable for diagnostics of CHD and the evaluation of the patient"s condition. Daily dynamics of myocardial ischemia and the number of its painless episodes are shown to correlate with the results of signal-averaged ECG, Q-T dispersion and LF/HF ratio. Patients with painless CHD show enhanced frequency of myocardial infarction with the Q-wave, high-grade ventricular extrasystole, and LVP coupled to disordered autonomous vegetative control of the sinus rhythm.     

左室肥厚对冠脉血流储备的影响

目的用冠状动脉内多普勒血流速度描记的方法评价左室肥厚对冠脉血流速度及血流储备的影响。方法研究对象为41例冠脉造影正常的患者。分三组甲组为11例无冠脉微血管病变基础者,男9例,女2例,年龄(48.91±7.18)岁,共27支冠脉,包括前降支10支,回旋支6支,右冠脉10支,对角支1支。乙组为16例有冠脉微血管病变基础但无左室肥厚者,男9例,女7例,年龄(56.63±9.83)岁,共41支冠脉,包括前降支16支,回旋支11支,右冠脉13支,对角支1支。丙组为14例左室肥厚者,男9例,女5例,年龄(60.14±8.98)岁,共28支冠脉,包括前降支9支,回旋支7支,右冠脉12支。用CardiometricsFlomapⅡ仪器和0.014英寸多普勒钢丝测量远端平均峰速(APV)、舒张期与收缩期流速比(D/SVR)、血流储备(CFR)和近端与远端流速比(P/DVR)。左室心肌重量用二维超声心动图法测定。结果与甲组相比,丙组冠脉远端基础状态APV显著较高(P＝0.0023),而冠脉远端CFR显著较低(P＝0.031)。丙组冠脉远端CFR亦较无左室肥厚的乙组低(P＝0.034)。同时左室心肌重量与左冠脉CFR呈负相关(r＝－0.36,P＜0.05)。乙组CFR虽较甲组低,但差别无显著意义(P＞0.05)。结论左室肥厚引起基础APV升高,是造成冠脉血流储备降低的重要原因之一。     

Clinicopathogenetic features of coronary heart disease combined with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and efficiency of therapy with trimetazidin

Based on retrospective analysis of 2446 in-patient cards, autopsy protocols, outpatient medical documentation, prevalence and features of clinical manifestation of cardiorespiratory pathology (CRP): coronary heart disease (CHD) combined with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)--1 stage of study, and also (after randomization and forming of main and control groups), efficiency of myocardial cytoprotector trimetazidin (TMZ) at its long-term use (1 year) in combined therapy (2 stage of study): 135 CHD patients (stable exertional angina functional class II-III: 92 and 43 persons respectively) with COPD of medium severe (111 persons) and severe course (24 persons), were studied. It is shown that CRP is prevailed in elder age groups (after 45 years) and noticed in 56.7% CHD patients. More sevenre course with great risk of myocardial infarction with Q wave (twice, p < 0.001), prolongation of painless ischemia (62.4+/-11.5 min/day vs. 22.8+/-11.1 min/day), inclination to complicated rhythm disturbances (38 vs. 21.9, p < 0.05) and earlier clinical manifestations of heart failure (4.3+/-0.6 years earlier, p < 0.001) is typical for CHD with COPD vs. patients without pulmonary pathology. In one year after beginning of treatment with TMZ (35 mg) number of weekly pain attacks was decreased in patients of 1st group vs. 2nd group (at the average -50.8% -29.3% vs. +12.5% +16.6% respectively); significant (p < 0.05) decrease in duration of painless myocardial ischemia was registered. Decrease in number of supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles (42.7+/-1.48 vs. 20.5+/-1.07 cases in a day, a < 0.0001), significant (p < 0.05) increase in ejection fraction and decrease in left ventricle end-diastolic volume (12.2+/-0.4% E 12.2+/-0.3% respectively), in dimensions of left (10.9+/-0.03%) and right (8.8+/-0.9%) atrium, in risk of development of acute coronary syndrome were noticed in the patients of main group received TMZ. Thus, long-term (not less then 1 year) use of TMZ (35 mg) in combined treatment assists to normalization of cardiovascular indices, decreases cardiovascular complication occurrence, improves disease prognosis and do not has negative side-effects.     

Systemic and coronary hemodynamic actions of the novel inotropic agent, ibopamine, and the de-esterified metabolite and active form, epinine: relationship to left ventricular performance in the dog

The relationship between the systemic hemodynamic, inotropic and coronary blood flow actions of the novel inotropic pro-drug, ibopamine, which is the 3,4-diisobutyryl ester derivative of the active form, epinine, was examined in pentobarbital-anesthetized, vagotomized dogs prepared for the recording of systemic arterial blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure and end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular dP/dt, aortic blood flow, left circumflex coronary artery blood flow and lead II ECG. All animals were given i.v. infusions of vehicle followed by 10 min infusions of either epinine (1.1, 3.3, 10 and 30 micrograms/kg/min, n = 4) or ibopamine (3.3, 10, 30 and 100 micrograms/kg/min, n = 4). Both epinine and ibopamine produced dose-dependent increases in mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure, left ventricular dP/dt, aortic blood flow, coronary blood flow, left ventricular minute work, stroke work, total peripheral vascular resistance and rate-pressure product. Both epinine and ibopamine decreased coronary vascular resistance, although only the decrease produced by ibopamine achieved statistical significance (P less than .05). Examination of the dose-response curves for epinine and ibopamine showed epinine to be 3- to 4-fold more potent than ibopamine with respect to increasing coronary blood flow, left ventricular stroke work, left ventricular dP/dt and rate-pressure product. However, neither drug increased myocardial work, myocardial oxygen consumption or contractility to a greater extent than the increase in coronary blood flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Myocardial contractility evaluation by radionuclide 4D-tomoventriculography in patients with ischemic heart disease

AIM: To estimate the capabilities of the new technique radionuclide 4D-tomoventriculography (4D-RTVG) versus conventional methods, such as radionuclide equilibrium ventriculography (REVG), ECG-synchronized single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), and echocardiography (EchoCG), in the evaluation of systolic and diastolic dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 29 patients (19 males and 10 females) aged 43 to 66 years who had CHD. The diagnosis of CHD was established on the basis of coronary angiographic findings when the signs of coronary atherosclerosis were found. All the patients underwent 4D-RTVG, REVG, myocardial ECG-synchronized SPECT, and Echo CG. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation of the values obtained by 4D-RTVG versus REVG and EchoCG when ejection fraction and left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume and the indices reflecting LV blood filling and ejection velocity were estimated. The correlation between the values provided by 4D-RTVG and myocardial ECG-synchronized SPECT females was slightly weaker. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that 4D-RTVG is highly reliable in evaluating both LV systolic and diastolic functions. That fact the technique is easy-to-use and mini-invasive shows that it may be clinically applied.