[Volumetric load in the diagnosis of early right-ventricular heart failure in patients with alcoholic heart damage].

Coronaroventriculographic data are presented for 32 patients with alcoholic heart damage (AHD). Volumetric load (400-450 ml polyglucin administration) was used to detect preclinical heart failure. Coronarography demonstrated atherosclerotic coronary arterial lesions in 7 of 32 patients. A comparative assessment of central hemodynamic and right-ventricular myocardial contractility parameters in the patients and control subjects showed that the ejection fraction was reduced in AHD patients because of a significant increment of end diastolic and end systolic volumes as well as significantly reduced right-ventricular stroke index. Repeated ventriculography after volumetric stress showed significantly increased volumes and reduced ejection fraction that were indicative of latent right-ventricular heart failure.