[Comparison of dynamic and isometric loading in echocardiographic examinations in patients with ischemic heart
Insights
Dynamic echocardiographic load significantly impacts left ventricular function more than isometric load in ischemic heart disease patients. This study compared these loads in patients with varying coronary artery disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD) affects myocardial function.
- Assessing left ventricular (LV) function under stress is crucial for IHD management.
- Different echocardiographic load types may elicit varied responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare LV functional indicators during isometric (HG) and dynamic (Ergo) echocardiographic stress tests.
- Evaluate responses in patients with different severities of coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Determine which load type provides more significant functional changes.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography with isometric (handgrip) and dynamic (ergometer) stress.
- Inclusion of 34 patients with three-vessel CAD (Group A) and 15 with one-to-two-vessel CAD (Group B).
- Measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, LV volumes (EDV/m², ESV/m²), Limacher's index, and ejection fraction (EF) at rest and post-load.
Main Results:
- Both loads increased LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes; dynamic load caused greater increases.
- Ejection fraction decreased under both loads, with a more pronounced drop during dynamic stress.
- Dynamic load induced a statistically significant drop in Limacher's index and greater volumetric changes in patients with less severe CAD (1-2 vessels).
- In severe CAD (3 vessels), isometric load produced volumetric changes comparable to dynamic load.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic echocardiographic load is a more potent stressor than isometric load for evaluating LV function in IHD.
- The severity of CAD influences the LV response to different echocardiographic stress types.
- Findings aid in selecting appropriate stress modalities for IHD assessment.
Abstract:
The objective of the work was to compare functional indicators of the left ventricle during isometric (HG) and dynamic (Ergo) echocardiographic load examinations in patients with different grades of ischaemic heart disease. In group A they compared results in 34 patients with affection of three coronary arteries and in group B 15 patients with 1-2 coronary arteries affected. They evaluated the systolic, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), the index of the diastolic end volume EDV/m2, the index of the systolic end volume ESV/m2, Limacher's index for evaluation of left ventricular motility and the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) at rest and after both types of loads. The EDV/m2 index increased in group A by 5.2 ml during an isometric load and by 10.4 ml during a dynamic load, in group B it increased by 1.6 and 7.0 ml resp. The values of the ESV/m2 index increased in group A by 8.5 ml during the isometric load and by 14.0 ml during the dynamic load, in group B by 4.1 and 10.8 ml resp. EF values at rest were similar in both groups: group A: 51.4%, B: 51.5%. During the isometric load the EF declined to 45.3% in group A and to 47,1% in group B. During the dynamic load the EF declined to 42% in group A and 42.5 in group B. The dynamic load produces, as compared with the isometric one, a statistically more significant drop of Limacher's index and greater volumetric changes of the left ventricular cavity in the group with 1-2 affected coronary arteries, as compared with the isometric load. In patients with three affected coronary arteries the volumetric changes during an isometric load are comparable with changes after a dynamic load.
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