Effects of enhanced afterload (methoxamine) and contractile state (dobutamine) on the left ventricular late-systolic wall stress-dimension relation

Although the left ventricular (LV) end-systolic pressure-dimension relation is a load-independent, sensitive index of contractile state, its accurate determination requires afterload manipulation. The slope value of the late-systolic stress-dimension relation determined under resting conditions has been suggested as an alternative index of contractility that can be assessed without pharmacologic intervention. To evaluate this relation, 14 normal subjects were studied by M-mode echocardiography, phonocardiography and indirect carotid pulse tracings during infusion of methoxamine to increase afterload. Seven of these subjects were also studied after infusion of dobutamine to increase contractility. Continuous systolic stress-dimension trajectories were computer generated from digitized tracings. The late-systolic portions of these curves were found to be linear and the slope and intercept were determined. The slope value was sensitive to both afterload and contractility, and the magnitude of change in slope value was relatively greater during afterload enhancement than during inotropic stimulation. A strong correlation of slope value with peak systolic stress was found. Thus, the late-systolic stress-dimension relation is linear with a slope value which is dependent on both LV contractility and afterload. Like other ejection phase indexes, the usefulness of this index is limited by its inability to distinguish changes in contractile state from alterations in loading conditions.