PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT MYOCARDIAL RELAXATION

Evaluation of the myocardial relaxation has become important in the la st years. Pm impaired relaxation may precede contractile dysfunctions and even cause heart failure. To treat this impaired lusitropism it is necessary to properly assess the lusitropic state of the heart and un derstand how drugs affect the cellular mechanisms underlying myocardia l relaxation (sarcoplasmic reticulum function, Ca2+ fluxes through the sarcolemma and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity). Current information reg arding these issues is provided in this review. The relative usefulnes s of the mechanical parameters used to evaluate the lusitropic state o f the heart in experimental models applied in pharmacology will also b e discussed.