[Mechanocardiography findings and hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy].

On 71 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with and without measurable left-ventricular outflow tract gradients, with typical and atypical morphology (ascertained by catherisation of the right and the left heart and angiocardiography as well as selective coronarography) as well as also by catheter investigation including the cardiography of ascertained dilatative cardiomyopathy in 19 patients mechanocardiographic (systolic time analysis from the carotid sphygmogram as well as parameters of the diastole from the apex cardiogram) investigations concerning the heart function and the course were performed. The hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized particularly by a restricted diastolic function, when a good or very good pumping function is present. On the basis of the mechanography the dilatative cardiomyography particularly shows a bad pumping function with also restricted diastolic function. The two forms of cardiomyopathy are clearly to be separated by means of the methods used. Prognostic statements are possible only with reservation. Apexcardiographic parameters are here better suitable.