EFFECTS OF A PRELOAD INCREASE ON VENTRICULAR FILLING IN CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a preload incre ase on ventricular filling dynamics in 50 coronary artery disease pati ents both before and immediately after leg elevation. Mitral and tricu spid peak E and A velocities and the mitral E/A velocity ratio increas ed after leg elevation whereas isovolumic relaxation time and mitral d eceleration time decreased. The increase in tricuspid peak A velocity after leg elevation was related to the positivity of the exercise stre ss test (p = 0.0 1). The increase in mitral peak A velocity was relate d to the history of old myocardial infarction (p = 0.006).