[Study of left ventricular function using systolic time intervals in a group of patients with polycythemia vera...

Left ventricular performance has been studied in 50 patients affected by primary polycythemia (P.V.) by determining systolic time intervals. 50 normal subjects were used as control group. All cases underwent a pharmacodynamic test with Amyl Nitrite. The results indicate that patients with P.V. present an abnormal behaviour of left ventricular performance after Amyl Nitrite; this alteration is more evident in patients with arterial hypertension. Amyl Nitrite, through its pharmacological action, causes changes in systolic time intervals and reveals a state of latent cardiac failure.