[Left-ventricular relaxation in patients with ischemic heart disease, congestive cardiomyopathy and mitral and aortic valve defects].

Left ventricular relaxation was studied in 105 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), 42 with mitral and aortic valvular diseases, and 14 with congestive cardiomyopathy. To assess the left ventricular relaxation, the values of dP/dt and T time constants for isovolumic exponential fall in intraventricular pressure were defined in the patients. Depressed left ventricular relaxation was found in the majority of the patients with CHD whatever the status of global and segmental pumping function of the left ventricle. Abnormal left ventricular relaxation turned out to be a characteristic feature in patients with congestive cardiomyopathy and valvular diseases that contributed to the generation of left ventricular overload by its pressure and volume. In CHD patients, depressed relaxation was accompanied by lower volume and slower early diastolic filling of the left ventricle.