Three cases of rapidly reversible severe myocardial depression are des
cribed in patients with status asthmaticus. Initial echocardiograms ob
tained within 1 day of hospital admission revealed global left ventric
ular hypokinesis with ejection fractions of 11 to 34%. Follow-up echoc
ardiograms 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 im
plications of this finding are discussed.