Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: effects on myocardial perfusion and left ventricular response to exercise.
Many patients with coronary artery disease treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) have a history of previous myocardial injury resulting in a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). The effects of successful PTCA on myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function in these patients were compared to treatment in patients with normal left ventricular EF. There were 21 patients with a normal EF (mean EF 59 +/- 2%) (Group I) and 15 patients with reduced EF (mean EF 43 +/- 1%) (Group II). Before PTCA a similar degree of reversible myocardial ischemia was present on thallium scintigraphy. At peak exercise left ventricular EF in the Group I patients decreased by 4 +/- 1% compared to 8 +/- 1% in Group II. At one month following successful PTCA there was resolution of reversible myocardial ischemia in both groups. No changes in EF at rest were observed. At the same level of exercise as before PTCA the mean EF was 5 +/- 1% higher than the pretreatment value in Group I and 10 +/- 1% higher in Group II. Thus in this study reversible myocardial ischemia was associated with severe compromise in the left ventricular response to exercise which was substantially improved by PTCA.
Singh
A
A
University Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Medical Center, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England.
Chandler
S
S
Pears
D
D
Perry
R
R
Murray
R G
RG
Shiu
M F
MF
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume