[A contribution to ergometric tests in the definition of gravity of mitral stenosis. The importance of the behavior of the left ventricular function, not always correlation to hemodynamic alterations above the valve (author's transl)].

An attempt to evaluate the severity of the valvulopathy was performed in 50 patients with pure mitral stenosis, 36 females and 14 males, by a haemodynamic study and by an exercise test. In 76% of the cases, electrocardiographic "ischemic" abnormalities were observed during the exercise test; after the exclusion of patients over 45, and patients with atrial fibrillation and/or digitalis treatment, a high frequency (63,15%) of electrocardiographic ischemic changes with effort is still observed. No correlations between the result of the exercise test either with pulmonary pressure values, or with other haemodynamic data (cardiac index and pulmonary vascular resistances) were demonstrated. The electrocardiographic abnormalities induced by exercise in these patients are discussed; the authors conclude that this behaviour under effort is significant for the importance of the impairment of the left ventricle function in mitral stenosis.