Echocardiographic and hemodynamic correlates in Prinzmetal angina pectoris: a case report.

In a patient suffering from Prinzmetal angina pectoris, ischemic attacks of the anterior left ventricular wall were associated with the following changes: fall in cardiac output; increased left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP) and volume; flattening of the septal motion; marked reduction of the mitral valve early diastolic amplitude and rate of opening; and marked reduction of the systolic closure velocity. It is suggested that LVDP rise depends, at least in part, on variations in left ventricular diastolic volume and segmental wall motion, and that disruption of the mitral valve motion derives from changes in LVDP and flow through the mitral orifice.