Acute, reversible left ventricular dysfunction in status asthmaticus.
Three cases of rapidly reversible severe myocardial depression are described in patients with status asthmaticus. Initial echocardiograms obtained within 1 day of hospital admission revealed global left ventricular hypokinesis with ejection fractions of 11 to 34%. Follow-up echocardiograms obtained only 3 to 8 days later revealed marked improvement of left ventricular function. Possible mechanisms responsible for the observed rapidly reversible myocardial depression and the clinical implications of this finding are discussed.
Levine
G N
GN
Department of Medicine, Evans Memorial Department of Clinical Research, Boston University Medical Center Hospital, Boston City Hospital 02118, USA.
Powell
C
C
Bernard
S A
SA
Sherman
D
D
Faling
L J
LJ
Davidoff
R
R
D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000150:complications*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology*