Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Ventricular Function”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,333 records · Page 74Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Radionuclide and hemodynamic assessment of left ventricular functional reserve in patients with left ventricular aneurysm and congestive cardiac failure. Response to exercise stress and isosorbide dinitrate.

The hemodynamic response to exercise stress was assessed in 17 patients with left ventricular (LV) aneurysm, demonstrated by contrast left ventriculography, and congestive cardiac failure (CCF) before and after sublingual isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN). Radionuclide ventriculography was performed at rest and during exercise in 14 patients. ISDN increased mean exercise LV stroke work index (LVSWI) from 31 to 39 g-m/m2 (p less than 0.001) and reduced mean exercise LV filling pressure from 38 to 25 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). Using the combined criteria of LVSWI and ejection fraction of the contractile section of the left ventricle (EFCS), no patient with rest EFCS of less than 40% achieved a good absolute response to exercise in LV performance with or without ISDN. Of the six patients with rest EFCS greater than or equal to 40% only three achieved a good response. While rest EFCS less than 40% indicates poor LV functional reserve, good LV functional reserve is not always indicated by rest EFCS greater than or equal to 40%.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of left ventricular function in asymptomatic children about to undergo anthracycline-based chemotherapy for acute leukemia: an outcome study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac toxicity is a well-recognized potential complication of anthracycline use. Children treated with anthracyclines undergo several cardiac screening procedures before therapy, but the usefulness of these pretherapy cardiac studies has never been evaluated. The authors examined whether induction chemotherapy in patients with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was altered based on a pretherapy left ventricular shortening fraction (SF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 134 children registered on treatment protocols of the Pediatric Oncology Group for high-risk B-precursor and T-cell ALL between 1987 and 1998 were reviewed. Demographic information consisting of age at diagnosis, sex, and past cardiac history was collected, as were the results of all echocardiographic evaluations for SF and actions taken based on these evaluations. The outcome measured was whether any changes were made in induction therapy based on initial SF. In addition, secondary SF results obtained at the cumulative anthracycline dose range of 90 to 150 mg/m2 were studied to determine whether modifications of future chemotherapy were made after this limited exposure. RESULTS: Three of 128 children (2.3%) without a previous cardiac history had an initial SF on their pretherapy echocardiogram that prompted additional evaluation but no change in therapy. A secondary analysis of SF in 85 children who completed anthracycline doses of 90 to 150 mg/m2 was performed. There were three (3.5%) with abnormal study results who were evaluated further. Again, no changes were made in the anthracycline doses based on these findings. No cardiac dysfunction occurred among these six patients during later follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of a previous cardiac history or signs and symptoms or cardiac disease, pretherapy evaluation of left ventricular function may not be indicated in children about to undergo anthracycline-based treatment of acute leukemia. The timing of initiation of cardiac evaluation remains unclear, but these results suggest that even at a cumulative dose of 90 to 150 mg/m2, studies to determine left ventricular function do not yield data sufficient to warrant a change in the clinical management of these patients.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1987

Improved survival with coronary bypass surgery in patients with three-vessel coronary disease and abnormal left ventricular function. Matched case-control study in patients with potentially operable disease.

Recent studies have suggested that patients with three-vessel coronary disease and abnormal left ventricular function have better survival rates with bypass surgery than with medical therapy alone. Case-control studies may give accurate survival estimates, but to be valid, selection biases must be taken into account. A matched case-control method was used to compare survival patterns in patients treated medically or surgically during the 1980s. Fifty medical patients with potentially operable coronary disease and 46 surgical patients were matched for significant three-vessel disease and abnormal ventricular function. These two groups had no significant differences with regard to 24 variables, including age (64 +/- 8 versus 63 +/- 10 years), chest pain class, congestive heart failure signs, ejection fraction (36 +/- 8 versus 37 +/- 9 percent), segmental wall score, or a coronary score evaluating lesion site and severity. There were slight differences between the two groups with regard to congestive heart failure symptoms (p = 0.04). Patients undergoing bypass surgery had improved four-year survival rates compared with the medical group (89 versus 55 percent; p = 0.01). Thus, this study used an effective case-control method to suggest that, in the 1980s, coronary surgery improves prognosis substantially in surgically approachable patients with severe coronary disease and ventricular dysfunction.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Intracoronary versus intravenous effects of cocaine on coronary flow and ventricular function.

BACKGROUND: Cocaine use has been associated with cardiomyopathy and ischemic coronary syndromes. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for these syndromes are not clear and have been suggested to involve direct effects of cocaine on myocyte contractility and coronary resistance as well as indirect effects via altered autonomic tone, secondary mediators, and myocardial metabolism. We sought to distinguish direct from indirect effects of cocaine on ventricular function and coronary resistance by comparison of the administration of intracoronary cocaine (0.12 to 0.36 mg/min constant infusion) with intravenous cocaine (5 mg/kg bolus infusion) in an in vivo anesthetized pig preparation. METHODS AND RESULTS: To control for changes in coronary resistance secondary to autoregulation and myocardial metabolism, the left anterior descending coronary artery was perfused at constant coronary pressure and the interventricular vein was cannulated for coronary venous oxygen saturation measurement. Coronary blood flow, regional percent segment shortening, myocardial oxygen consumption, and serum cocaine concentrations were measured. Intracoronary cocaine produced a dose-dependent decrease in percent segment shortening in the absence of significant changes in coronary flow or systemic hemodynamics. In contrast, intravenous cocaine had mild biphasic effects on coronary resistance with an initial brief vasodilation (30.0 +/- 5% increase in flow from control) followed by more prolonged vasoconstriction (17.0 +/- 3.3% decrease in flow from control), which were independent of autoregulation or myocardial metabolism. In addition, intravenous cocaine caused an early 48% decrease in percent segment shortening, at which time the measured cocaine concentration was 20.1 micrograms/mL blood. This was comparable to the intracoronary cocaine concentration of 17.1 micrograms/mL blood, which produced a similar 48% decrease in percent segment shortening. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the effects of acute cocaine exposure on ventricular function are predominantly direct but of brief duration and therefore probably not clinically relevant. The effects of cocaine on coronary tone are predominantly indirect and biphasic, with early vasodilation followed by mild and more prolonged vasoconstriction. In the absence of coronary stenosis or ventricular hypertrophy, this small amount of vasoconstriction is unlikely to cause ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with poor left ventricular function.

Patients undergoing isolated first-time elective coronary bypass surgery were classified according to their preoperative ejection fraction: group 1 comprised 131 patients with poor left ventricular function (ejection fraction < 40%); group 2 was 1,496 control patients. The mean number of distal anastomoses was not significantly different in the 2 groups, however, clamp time, pump time, and operative time were longer in group 1. Patient recovery was significantly slower in group 1. Morbidity (14.5% in group 1 versus 7.4% in group 2, p < 0.005) and mortality (2.3% versus 0.1%, p < 0.0001) were higher in group 1. During late follow-up, the 5-year survival rate (70.1% versus 90.5%) and 5-year event-free rate (65.6% versus 81.9%) were significantly inferior in group 1 compared to group 2. The results of bypass surgery in cases of decreased left ventricular function were poor, and such patients need to be carefully followed up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Basic evaluation of an ambulatory ventricular function monitor with a a cadmium telluride detector].

The reliability of a new ambulatory ventricular function monitor (VEST) with cadmium telluride (Cd-Te) detector was validated. No counting loss was observed under 20 kcps. In phantom study, more than 200 ml with 6 cm distance from the detector and more than 300 ml with 6-12 cm distance, underestimation of volume was observed. Ejection fraction (EF) calculated in phantom study showed close value to the true EF in 50-400 ml of end-diastolic volume. In 10 patients, 1-2 cm detector shift toward right upper, upper and left showed underestimation of EF. Good correlation of gamma camera EF (X) and VEST EF (Y) was obtained (Y = 0.96X + 3.6(%), n = 37, r = 0.93, p less than 0.001). EF change from rest values, obtained from each comparable exercise and post exercise stage by gamma camera (X) and VEST (Y), showed good correlation (Y = 0.95X + 0.8, n = 20, r = 0.85, p less than 0.001). In conclusion Cd-Te VEST was considered as a reliable EF measurement technique similar to gamma camera.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1979

The effect of propranolol on left ventricular function at rest and during exercise in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Twelve patients with ischemic heart disease were investigated by right and left heart catheterisation. All patients were studied at rest and during exercise, both before and after administration of beta-blocker propranolol, Inderal (ICI). Left ventricular function decreased after administration of propranolol, but these changes were significant only during exercise. Contractility was depressed after administration of propranolol already at rest. On the other hand, left ventricular filling pressure decreased after administration of propranolol. Our results show the poor reliability of the evaluation of the left ventricular function based solely on the left ventricular filling pressure.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Therapeutic trials in coronary thrombosis should measure left ventricular function as primary end-point of treatment.

Clinical trials in coronary thrombosis can record as end-points either death or an index of left ventricular function (ejection fraction or end-systolic volume) which can be used as a surrogate for long-term mortality. Hospital mortality for patients under 70 years of age in whom effective thrombolysis is achieved should now be no more than about 5%. To show a 20% reduction (to 4%) in mortality with an alpha error (two-sided) of 0.05 and a beta error of 0.2 requires 15,000 patients. By contrast, a 25% improvement towards normal in ejection fraction (from about 59% to about 62%) requires only 384 patients. Since it is likely that one of several thrombolytic agents will be effective in conjunction with one or more myocardial protective agents, many trials will be required, and it may be more appropriate in future studies to measure left ventricular function rather than mortality as the principal end-point.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2001

Detection of early abnormalities of left ventricular function by hemodynamic, echo-tissue Doppler imaging, and mitral Doppler flow techniques in patients with coronary artery disease and normal ejection fraction.

We have investigated the possibility of detecting early abnormalities of left ventricular function at the initial phase of ischemic cardiomyopathy. Sixteen normotensive patients with coronary artery disease and normal left ventricular ejection fraction and 6 control patients were studied by invasive hemodynamic techniques in combination with transmitral Doppler flow or with echo-tissue Doppler imaging. The extent of the percentage of left ventricular longitudinal shortening and the systolic peak velocity at echo-tissue Doppler were significantly higher in the control patients than in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (P <.01). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was higher (P <.05), whereas mean values of isovolumic contraction and relaxation indexes (dP/dt/P: P <.05; +dP/dt: P <.05; -dP/dt: P <.01) were lower in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Tau was significantly longer in ischemic patients (42.7 +/- 8.8 versus 34.5 +/- 3.7 ms, P <.05). In the control patients, the aortic valve closure to peak E interval by transmitral Doppler flow was significantly longer than that measured by echo-tissue Doppler (P <.001), whereas in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, this interval difference was still present and significantly shorter (P <.05). In patients with coronary artery disease and normal ejection fraction, minor and early abnormalities of left ventricular function related to isovolumic contraction and relaxation as well as to longitudinal shortening could be detected. In addition, a suction-like effect, detected during early filling evaluation with echo-tissue Doppler, is significantly decreased but not abolished during the early stages of coronary artery disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Chronic hypoxemia depresses global ventricular function and predisposes to the depletion of high-energy phosphates during cardioplegic arrest: implications for surgical repair of cyanotic congenital heart defects.

Persistence of impaired ventricular function after repair of cyanotic congenital heart defects may be due to previous exposure to chronic hypoxemia or to perioperative ischemic injury. Clarification of this phenomenon was sought in a canine model of cyanotic cardiovascular disease (Group I), in which the left atrium was anastomosed proximal to the banded pulmonary artery. Animals that had pulmonary artery banding alone (Group II) or no prior surgical intervention (Group III) served as controls. All Group I animals became cyanotic during the study period (arterial oxygen tension, 38 +/- 4 mm Hg; hematocrit, 55 +/- 5%). Radionuclide-determined ejection fractions performed three months after operation showed significant depression of global biventricular function by 16 to 29% (p less than 0.05) compared with groups II and III. On cardiopulmonary bypass, all hearts were subjected to 4 degrees C potassium cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion with serial assays for myocardial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate (CP) levels. The ATP and CP stores in each ventricle were similar at all sampling intervals, and preischemic levels were comparable in cyanotic and control groups. However, ATP levels were significantly depressed 37 to 43% from preischemic levels (p less than 0.02) after arrest and reperfusion in cyanotic dogs, but they were preserved in Groups II and III. During ischemia, CP stores were depleted to 27% of preischemic values in Group I but only to 46 to 63% of preischemic levels in the control groups (p less than 0.05). These data indicate that chronic hypoxemia impairs global ventricular function and predisposes to the accelerated depletion of high-energy phosphates during cardioplegic arrest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2003

Cell transplantation to improve ventricular function in the failing heart.

Current therapies for congestive heart failure are limited in efficacy or in applicability. Cardiac cell transplantation offers a novel therapeutic approach to improve heart function. Although significant progress has been made over the past decade in the development of cell transplantation, only recently have investigators studied the changes in ventricular function following cell transplantation. This review article describes the latest research developments, evaluates recent studies of ventricular function after cell transplantation, and discusses the future directions of cell transplantation as a new therapy to 'repair broken hearts'.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Differential effects of triiodothyronine on rat left and right ventricular function and the influence of metoprolol.

The influence of triiodothyronine (T3) on right ventricular functional parameters was tested and compared to the alterations induced in the left ventricle. Female Sprague-Dawley rats received daily injections of T3 (0.2 mg/kg s.c.) for 3 days and a constant i.v. infusion of 0.9% NaCl or the beta 1-receptor blocker metoprolol (1 mg/kg/h). The hyperthyroid state after 3 days administration of T3 was characterized by an increase in heart rate and cardiac output and a decrease in the systemic peripheral resistance. However, pulmonary vascular resistance was unchanged. Beta-Receptor blockade reduced heart rate to the control level without affecting the elevation in cardiac output. The T3 group showed a marked increase in right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure, whereas left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and mean aortic pressure were not significantly changed. Metoprolol had no effect on LVSP, and attenuated the increase in RVSP. Furthermore, T3 induced a considerable increase in dP/dtmax in both ventricles, which was reduced nearly to control level by concomitant metoprolol infusion. The T3-induced percentage weight gain of the right ventricular free wall (RV) was more pronounced than that of the left ventricle (LV) as indicated by the significant increase in the RV/LV weight and the RNA/DNA ratios. Metoprolol did not affect significantly the T3-induced left and right ventricular hypertrophy, but attenuated slightly the elevated RV/LV weight ratio. Our results indicate a different action of T3 on systemic and pulmonary circulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effects of thrombolytic agents on coronary recanalization and patency, cardiac enzyme release, left ventricular function, and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Morbidity and long-term mortality following acute myocardial infarction are directly related to the extent of left ventricular dysfunction. None of the numerous interventions that have been explored in the prevention of myocardial necrosis appears to surpass the benefit provided by rapid restoration of blood flow in the infarct-related coronary artery and attendant reperfusion of the ischemic zone. Although intracoronary administration of thrombolytic drugs results in rapid recanalization (72% with streptokinase or urokinase, 65% with APSAC), this route of administration is not practical and probably not necessary. Indeed, with intravenous administration of thrombolytics, the recanalization rate determined 90 min after the start of 1.5 million U of streptokinase is 43%, after 30 U of APSAC is 56%, after 1 to 2 million U of urokinase is 53%, and after rt-PA is 69%. Coronary patency can be achieved by intravenous therapy, with rates at 90 min of 56% for SK, 77% for APSAC, 71% for prourokinase, and 75% for rt-PA. There is sufficient evidence at present to conclude that the early administration of a thrombolytic agent will reduce infarct size and promote improved ventricular function. The benefits afforded by early recanalization on ejection fraction are clear and unmistakable. When compared to placebo treatment, the hospital mortality reduction in patients treated within 6 h after onset of symptoms is 47% after intracoronary SK. 43% after intravenous SK, 48% after intravenous APSAC, and 51% after intravenous rt-PA. However, the results of direct comparison of these different thrombolytic agents on the left ventricular function and mortality in a large number of patients are crucially important and eagerly anticipated.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed2002

Esmolol improves left ventricular function via enhanced beta-adrenergic receptor signaling in a canine model of coronary revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Recent American Heart Association guidelines highlight the paucity of data on effectiveness and/or mechanisms underlying use of beta-adrenergic receptor (beta AR) antagonists after acute coronary syndromes in patients subsequently undergoing revascularization. It is important to assess whether beta AR antagonists might protect the heart and improve ventricular function in this scenario. The authors therefore used esmolol (an ultra-short-acting beta AR antagonist) to determine whether beta AR antagonist treatment improves left ventricular function in a canine model of acute reversible coronary ischemia followed by coronary reperfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The authors also tested whether the mechanism includes preserved beta AR signaling. METHODS: Dogs were randomized to either esmolol or saline infusions administered during CPB (n = 29). Pre-CPB and end-CPB transmyocardial left ventricular biopsies were obtained; plasma catecholamine concentrations, myocardial beta AR density, and adenylyl cyclase activity were measured. In addition, left ventricular systolic shortening and postsystolic shortening were determined immediately prior to each biopsy. RESULTS: While beta AR density remained unchanged in each group, isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity decreased 26 +/- 6% in the control group but increased 38 +/- 10% in the esmolol group (pre-CPB to end-CPB, mean +/- SD, P = 0.0001). Left ventricular systolic shortening improved in both groups after release of coronary (LAD) ligature; however, the esmolol group increased to 72 +/- 23% of pre-CPB values compared to 48 +/- 12% for the control group (P = 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide prospective evidence that esmolol administration results in improved myocardial function. Furthermore, the mechanism appears to involve enhanced myocardial beta AR signaling.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1994

Ventricular function during liver reperfusion in hepatic transplantation. A transesophageal echocardiographic study.

Postreperfusion syndrome (PRS) is the most dramatic and acute hemodynamic alteration that occurs in OLT. Our aim was to determine heart function by hemodynamic monitoring and transesophageal echocardiography during PRS. We studied 24 nonconsecutive patients allocated to 2 groups: group A (n = 8), patients with PRS, and group B (n = 16), patients without PRS. Usual hemodynamic data were obtained simultaneously with transesophageal echocardiography recording of the left ventricular imaging in 4 different stages: after induction of anesthesia, 5 min before the end of the anhepatic phase, between 2 and 5 min after reperfusion, and 5 min after graft reperfusion. The hemodynamic and echocardiographic findings during reperfusion were (group A vs. group B patients): mean arterial pressure, 50.0 +/- 15.2 vs. 74.7 +/- 13.9 mmHg (P < 0.01); pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, 12.7 +/- 6.1 vs. 13.9 +/- 5.7 mmHg (NS); left ventricular ejection fraction, 79.6 +/- 9.3 vs. 83.4 +/- 9.4% (NS); left ventricular end diastolic volume index, 35.5 +/- 12.7 vs. 54.7 +/- 21.3 ml/m2 (P < 0.05); and stroke volume index, 27.9 +/- 8.9 vs. 45.5 +/- 15.9 ml/m2 (P < 0.01). There was a mild decrease in left ventricular compliance in group A. We found no alteration in left ventricular function that can justify PRS. The hemodynamic changes during PRS seemed to be caused by an insufficient increase in preload after unclamping.

Diastole↗
PubMed2004

Hemodynamic effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ramipril, in patients with mild to moderate aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular function.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use is presumed to be contraindicated in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We determined the hemodynamic effects of ACE inhibitors in patients with mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved left ventricular function. METHODS: Thirteen elderly patients (mean [SD] age = 65 [17] years), with mild to moderate AS (aortic jet velocity 2.5-4.0 m/s), normal left ventricular and renal function, and no clinical coronary artery disease, were enrolled in a single-center, open-label trial comparing the hemodynamic effects at baseline and following titration of ramipril to a maximum dose of 7.5 mg twice daily. Patients were identified from echocardiography laboratory logs. Despite a presumed contraindication to ACE inhibitor use in AS patients, 30% (71 of 235) of patients otherwise meeting inclusion or exclusion criteria were excluded owing to current ACE inhibitor use. Patients were monitored with weekly clinic visits, biweekly laboratory tests, and monthly echocardiograms. RESULTS: There were no significant changes from baseline to week 8 in echocardiographic parameters, including mean (SD) aortic jet velocity [2.9 (0.4) vs 2.9 (0.4) m/s], calculated aortic transvalvular gradient [18 (6) vs 18 (6) mm Hg], or cardiac output [5.5 (1.2) vs 6.0 (2.1) L/min], or significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate. Early discontinuations were for asymptomatic low blood pressure (one patient) or a reversible creatinine increase of 0.3 mg/dL (one patient). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term treatment with up to 7.5 mg twice daily of ramipril was well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate AS and preserved left ventricular function. A surprisingly high proportion of patients with documented AS were already receiving ACE inhibitors.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effect of beta-blockade on low-dose dobutamine-induced changes in left ventricular function in healthy volunteers: assessment by gated SPET myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

Viability studies are often performed in patients receiving beta-blocking agents. However, the intake of beta-blocking agents could influence the identification of viable myocardium when low-dose dobutamine is used to demonstrate inotropic reserve. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of beta-blockade on global and regional left ventricular function in healthy volunteers using low-dose dobutamine gated single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Ten subjects were studied once "on" and once "off" beta-blocker therapy (metoprolol succinate, 100 mg day(-1)). On each occasion four consecutive gated SPET acquisitions (of 7 min duration) were recorded after injection of 925 MBq technetium-99m tetrofosmin on a triple-headed camera equipped with focussing (Cardiofocal) collimators. Acquisitions were made at rest (baseline 1 and 2) and 5 min after the beginning of the infusion of 5 and 10 microg kg(-1) min(-1) dobutamine. Wall thickening (WT) was quantified using a method based on circumferential profile analysis. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was obtained using the Cedars-Sinai algorithm. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded at the end of each acquisition. At baseline LVEF, WT and systolic BP values under beta-blockade were not significantly different from those obtained in the non-beta-blocked state. The mean HR and diastolic BP at baseline were lower under beta-blockade. Dobutamine administration (at 5 and 10 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) induced a significant increase in WT, LVEF and systolic BP in all subjects both on and off beta-blockade. The increases in WT, LVEF and systolic BP in the beta-blocked state were less pronounced but not significantly different. HR increased significantly at 10 microg kg(-1) min(-1) dobutamine without beta-blocker administration, while no increase in HR was observed in the beta-blocked state. Beta-blocker therapy in healthy subjects attenuates the inotropic and chronotropic myocardial response to low-dose dobutamine. At doses of 5 and 10 microg kg(-1) min(-1) dobutamine, however, significant increases in global and regional left ventricular function can still be measured using consecutive gated SPET myocardial perfusion scintigraphy acquisitions even under beta-blocker therapy.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Brain natriuretic peptide is a sensitive indicator of impaired left-ventricular function in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease.

We studied the relation between the plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and echocardiographic findings to determine the sensitivity of BNP as an indicator of left-ventricular dysfunction in elderly patients with various cardiovascular diseases. The plasma concentration of BNP was positively correlated with left-ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions (LVEDD and LVESD, respectively) and inversely correlated with the left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with prior myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, and valvular heart disease. The plasma concentration of BNP decreased significantly in association with an increase in LVEF and decreases in LVEDD and LVESD in patients with congestive heart failure following therapy. These observations indicate that the plasma concentration of BNP is a sensitive marker of impaired left-ventricular function in elderly patients with various cardiovascular diseases and may be useful for evaluating the improvement in left-ventricular function and the efficacy of therapy in patients with congestive heart failure.

Aged↗