Dynamic ventriculography in patients with ischaemic heart disease. I. Influence of nitroglycerin on left ventricular function.

In 25 patients with ischaemic heart disease the effect of nitroglycerin [NTG] on segmental and global function of the left ventricle was assessed by means of left ventricular cineangiography. In 14 patients a segmental disturbance of contraction at rest was found; in six of them the function inproved after NTG. After NTG, the left ventricular diastolic volume, end-diastolic pressure, and systolic blood pressure decreased, the heart rate increased. The global left ventricular function did not significantly change. In patients with ischaemic heart disease NTG helps to differentiate reversible and irreversible disturbances of left ventricular contraction.