[Investigations of the left ventricular dynamics in stable-angina pectoris (AP)]

The investigations were carried out in 78 patients with stable AP without myocardiaI infarction in their case history and in 30 controls all distributed in three series: I = 37 patients with AP and marked alterations of ventricular repolarization (ST depression ≥ 52 mm and T negative waves ≥ 2 mm); II = 41 patients with AP and normal ECG and III = 30 controls, clinically and ECG normal, of similar age with the patients in the I and II series. The investigations of the left ventricular systole periods also rendered evident in the patients with AP important alterations of ventricular repolarization (Ist series): prolonged preejection period (PEP) due to the izovolumetric contraction time (IVCT), shortening of the ejection time (LVET) and decrease of PEP/LVET ratio as well as the significant increase of S(IV)/S(I) ratio. Although slightly shortened in this series, the electromechanic systole (QS(II)) does not present statistically significant alterations, the prolonged PEP being partially counter-balaced by the shortened LVET. The most sensitive index seems to be the PEP/LVET ratio. The alterations' of the left ventricular systole periods become evident late in the course of the disease, when significant ischemic lesions are present this the method has no value in determining an early diagnosis. On the other hand this type of investigation is an useful quantitative method for estimating the functional state of the cardiac muscle in the patients with the diagnosis of AP (stage diagnosis of AP) and subsequent evolution (repeated records).