[Changes in left ventricular inflow and pulmonary venous flow patterns during preload alteration in dilated heart].

Changes in left ventricular inflow (LVIF) and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) patterns during preload alteration were assessed in 30 patients with dilated heart, including 10 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and 20 with old myocardial infarction. Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography was performed during lower body negative (LBNP, -40 mmHg) and positive pressure (LBPP, +40 mmHg) in all 30 patients and 20 normal controls. Eight of the 30 patients showed the "pseudonormalization (PN)" pattern, and 22 showed the "decreased early diastolic wave (E) and compensatorily increased atrial contraction wave (A) (N-PN)" pattern of LVIF in the control state. The diastolic wave (PVD) of the PVF and E of the LVIF were significantly higher, and the second systolic wave (PVS2) of the PVF and A of the LVIF were lower in the PN group than in the N-PN group. The amplitude of the atrial contraction wave (PVA) of the PVF in both groups of dilated heart patients was larger than in the normal group. The ratio of the amplitude of the atrial contraction wave to the total vertical deflection (A/H) of the apexcardiogram and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in the PN group were greater than those in the N-PN group in the control state. LVIF in six of the 22 N-PN patients changed to the PN pattern during LBPP, and in three of eight PN patients changed to the N-PN pattern during LBNP. The six patients demonstrating the change from the N-PN to PN pattern showed a significant increase in PVD and PVA during LBPP compared with the control state, and a significant increase in PCWP in the control state compared with the 14 patients without a change in LVIF. Peak velocity of E in each group was decreased during LBNP and increased during LBPP, but peak velocity of A did not change during preload alteration. Peak velocity of PVS2 in the normal group was significantly decreased, and those of the PN and N-PN groups were decreased but not significantly during LBNP. The peak velocity of PVD was decreased during LBNP in the PN and N-PN groups, and the decrease was significantly higher in the former than in the latter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)