[Mitral valve function during frequency stimulation in coronary disease. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic comparative studies].

In 3 controls and 10 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and angina pectoris (AP) left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP) and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) are measured at rest (R) and during right atrial pacing with stepwise increments in heart rate. The values were compared to the simultaneously recorded DE-slope and EF-slope of the mitral valve echocardiogram. The following results could be obtained: 1. In the control group PADP increased sharply at a rate of aobut 120/min, while LVEDP further decreased. This "physiological dysfunction" of the mitral valve could not be detected by echocardiography. 2. In patients with CHD and AP both pressures rose concomitantly with the onset of the angina; moreover, the EF-slope showed a significant reduction. 3. This decrease of the EF-slope is due to an increment of LVEDP during angina and may be used as a diastolic tool, if the exercise electrocardiogram is negative. 4. LVEDP and EF-slope are correlated weil in most patients with CHD. However, there was a lack of correlation between the reduction of the EF-slope and left ventricular function.