[Coronary disease. II. Analysis of diastolic pressure-volume correlations and left ventricular elasticity in 110 patients].

Left ventricular pressure-volume relationships as well as diastolic compliance were determined in 110 patients with coronary heart disease during routine right and left heart catheterization, coronary angiography and ventriculography. 1. Enddiastolic and endystolic volume of the left ventricle were increased in severe coronary heart disease dependent on the degree of coronary stenosis; left ventricular ejection fraction was consecutively reduced. 2. Left ventricular enddiastolic pressure, diastolic pressure difference and diastolic rate of pressure rise were increased in corrleation with coronary artery stenosis. In contrast, last diastolic volume inflow into the left ventricle was nearly the same in all groups. Left ventricular stiffness, expressed as dP/dV, was significantly increased dependent on the severity degree of coronary artery disease. 3. Diastolic pressure-volume relationships revealed greater steepness in coronary artery disease, significantly dependent, on the corresponding severity degree. 4. Hemodynamic measures (stroke volume, cardiac index, ejection fraction) were decreased parallel to the increased left ventricular wall stiffness. The results demonstrated decreased left ventricular compliance in coronary heart disease. There was a striking correlation between the severity degree of coronary heart disease and the decrease of left ventricular compliance. Validity and limitations of the techniques of estimating left ventricular compliance from diastolic pressures and volumes as well as the effects of a decrease of left ventricular compliance on cardiac mechanics are discussed.