[Silent myocardial ischemia evaluated by ambulatory left ventricular function monitoring]

To determine whether left ventricular function is less disturbed in asymptomatic ischemia than in symptomatic ischemia, exercise-induced left ventricular function was measured in beat-to-beat using an ambulatory left ventricular function monitoring system. The study subjects were 22 patients with coronary artery disease. Supine and sitting ergometer exercise tests were performed. Of 44 exercise tests, 33 showed significant ST depression on electrocardiograms. Among these 33, 17 were asymptomatic: 16, symptomatic. The left ventricular functions during exercise of these 33 were analyzed and compared with those of five normal controls. The changes in end-diastolic volume were not so significant either in controls or in the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups, but the changes in end-systolic volume were reversed in the diseased groups, particularly in the symptomatic group. The changes in ejection fraction (EF), therefore, were significantly negative in the diseased group, particularly in the symptomatic group. The correlation between exercise-induced left ventricular dysfunction and symptoms was evaluated among the 33 patients. Symptoms were present in 35% (6/17) in less than 10% decrease in EF, 44% (4/9) in 10-15% decrease, and 85% (6/7) in greater than or equal to 15% decrease, respectively. Thus, asymptomatic ischemia represents a lesser degree of myocardial ischemia as indicated by mild left ventricular dysfunction, compared with symptomatic ischemia. However, some cases of severe myocardial ischemia did not develop symptoms. We concluded that silent myocardial ischemia is responsible for a lesser degree of myocardial ischemia and decreased pain perception.