Quantitative angiocardiography--evaluation of left ventricular function in mitral stenosis.

Investigations of left ventricular function were carried out in 59 patients with mitral stenosis and 8 healthy subjects by means of one-plane quantitative angiocardiography. A statistically significant increase of the left-ventricular systolic volume was observed in patients (x=74.9 +/- 29,8 ml) as compared with the control group (x=35.2 +/- 12,7 ml), the systolic ejection fraction decreased (patients: x=49% +/- 12, controls: x=74% +/-3), similarly as the stroke volume (patients x=74.8 +/- 29.6 ml, controls: x=104 +/- 42 ml). The diastolic volume of the left ventricle was similar in both groups (patients: x=143 +/- 43 ml, controls: x=134 +/- 47.9 ml). A significant decrease of the systolic ejection fraction and an increase of the systolic volume of the ventricle were observed with higher grades of mitral stenosis evaluated according to the classification of the New York Heart Association. A negative correlation was demonstrated between the systolic volume of the left ventricle and the systolic ejection fraction (r=-0.707) and the work of the left ventricle (r=-0.237). On the other hand, a positive correlation was found between the left-ventricular work and the systolic ejection fraction (r=+0.227). The results indicate unequivocally impairment of left ventricular function in mitral stenosis and a considerable role played in it by the myocardial factor.