The effect of bicycle exercise and atrial pacing on left ventricular volume and function in healthy persons and in patients with coronary artery disease. An echocardiographic study.

The haemodynamic response to submaximal exercise and atrial pacing in 30 healthy subjects and in 30 patients with coronary artery disease was investigated by M-mode echocardiography. In healthy subjects, the cardiovascular function after atrial pacing was not altered substantially. Exercise, however, caused a marked improvement in haemodynamics, which was due to increased myocardial contractility and diminished afterload. On the other hand, in patients with coronary artery disease, both after exercise and after atrial pacing a significant deterioration of left ventricular function was observed.