Left ventricular stiffness.

Left ventricular stiffness is defined by the relationship between pressure and volume and can be altered by a variety of disorders. In disorders with high VLVED, such as mitral regurgitation, protection of pulmonary capillaries from high pressure is provided by a PV shift. In contrast, increased stiffness is produced by ventricular hypertrophy or ischemic heart disease, which puts the patient at increased risk for pulmonary capillary hypertension. Changing the ventricular PV relationship by therapy is an exciting prospect.