[Electrocardiographic study of left ventricular performance in normal pregnancy]

This study was undertaken to determine the changes of left ventricular function during normal pregnancy. Fifteen women aged 23 to 36 years old were studied by M mode and 2D echocardiography at 3, 6 and 9 months and during the post partum period (30 days). The M mode recordings were analysed on an ID.01 computer. The principal parameters rose significantly from the 3rd to the 9th month, and then fell during the post partum period: heart rate, 73 +/- 5 to 80 +/- 9 and then to 70 +/- 8 beats/min: LV end diastolic parameter 46 +/- 2 to 49 +/- 3 mm: LV end diastolic volume 102 +/- 16 to 120 +/- 30 and then 102 +/- 22 cm3; stroke volume: 72 +/- 15 to 87 +/- 25 and then to 70 +/- 16 ml; cardiac output: 5.6 +/- 1.2 to 7.1 +/- 2.3 and then to 5.0 +/- 1.4 l/min; cardiac index: 3.5 +/- 0.7 to 4.1 +/- 1.3 and then to 3.0 +/- 0.8 l/min/m2; LV mass: 69 +/- 14 to 91 +/- 39 and then to 82 +/- 27 g; the ratio of mass/volume also increased from 0.97 +/- 0.14 to 1.10 +/- 0.5. On the other hand, the following parameters did not change significantly: LV end systolic diameter: 30 +/- 3 to 31 +/- 3 and then to 30 +/- 4 mm; ejection fraction: 0.70 +/- 0.72 and then to 0.68; LV fractional shortening: 34 +/- 5 to 36 +/- 5 and then 33 +/- 6; velocity of circumferential fibre shortening: 1.2 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.1 and then 1.1 +/- 0.2 circ/s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)