Left ventricular myocardial function during the acute phase of a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
OBJECTIVE
Previous reports suggest that left myocardial ventricular function changes during the course of a subarachnoid haemorrhage. The aim of this study was to evaluate left myocardial ventricular function with tissue Doppler echocardiography at two time points during the acute phase of a subarachnoid haemorrhage.


METHODS
Eighteen consecutive patients (median 52 years, range 33-74) with spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage and no history of heart disease were examined at 1-5 days and at 6-11 days following ictus. Eighteen control subjects were included for comparison (52 years, 32-72).


RESULTS
Tissue Doppler indices of left ventricular contractility were higher in patients than in controls at both examinations (p<0.001). Indices of left ventricular stroke volume were elevated compared to controls at examination 1 (p<0.05), but not at examination 2. Early diastolic relaxation rate decreased from examination 1 to 2 (p=0.001). Three patients had increased troponin T (range 0.010-0.131 microg/l).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage, systolic and diastolic function is increased compared to healthy controls, suggesting a hyperdynamic and hypervolemic circulation.
Sandvei
Marie Søfteland
MS
Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Amundsen
Brage H
BH
Haugen
Bjørn Olav
BO
Støylen
Asbjørn
A
Slørdahl
Stig A
SA
Vik
Anne
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D015415:Biomarkers; D020107:Troponin T