title: Characteristic clinical findings of reversible left ventricular dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, clinical findings were evaluated in 16 patients with reversible left ventricular dysfunction (RLVD) who showed a clinical picture similar to that of acute myocardial infarction, in addition to akinesis or dyskinesis of the left ventricular apex without showing any abnormalities in the coronary artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of RLVD was markedly higher in women than in men in these 16 patients (men:women = 1:7). In addition, these patients showed ECG changes similar to those observed in ischemic heart diseases, such as ST elevation or depression, negative T waves and QT prolongation. However, the serum cardiac markers were only slightly increased, and no specific changes were detected by histological examinations of the heart muscle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These patients also showed a clinical picture similar to the stunned myocardium caused by myocardial ischemia. However, the frequency of RLVD was higher in women than in men compared to the frequency of other coronary artery diseases, and there was no severe stenosis in the coronary artery. Moreover, most of these patients showed negative results for the coronary spasm provocation test. Therefore, RLVD may be an atypical ischemic heart disease if it is caused by coronary arteriosclerosis. Since RLVD developed during the course of other diseases or under severe mental stress, autonomic nerves may be involved in the etiology of RLVD. Furthermore, 2 patients who received the coronary spasm provocation test during the acute phase showed positive results. Therefore, other factors that transiently increase the sensitivity of the coronary artery may also be involved in the etiology of RLVD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sasebo Municipal General Hospital, Nagasaki.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamasa
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Akiyo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ninomiya
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshinaga
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yakabe
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukahori
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*