[Effect of isometric exercise on the lesser circulation in a group of patients with mitral stenosis]

The hemodynamic changes of the pulmonary vascular system in patients with mitral stenosis, has been evaluated during isometric exercise (handgrip). Heart rate, pulmonary artery sistolic, dyastolic, mean and "wedged" pressure, end-dyastolic pulmonary vascular and trans-mitralic gradient, total pulmonary resistences increase significantly. Cardiac output and pulmonary vascular bed are probably related to the tachycardia induced by the handgrip, and to the conseguent shortening of the dyastolic left ventricular filling time.