ACUTE, REVERSIBLE LEFT-VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION IN STATUS-ASTHMATICUS

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.