Left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction

10 patients with their first AMI were studied within the first 48 hours and again after 3 weeks. Central and peripheral haemodynamics (CI, SV, SW, TPR) were examined, including indices of contractility (dp/dtmax) and wall stiffness (deltaP/deltaV, relation deltaP/deltaV to P) of the left ventricle. In the early phase CI and SW, as well as LV dp/dtmax were depressed in accordance with symptoms of LV failure. deltaP/deltaV was increased. Elevation of LVEDP correlated well with ventricular gallop rhythm, but less consistently with LV functional disturbance. During convalescence CI increased uniformly, both in digitalized and non-digitalized individuals. In contrast heart rate, aortic pressure, LVEDP and dp/dtmax remained unchanged. The increase of CI, SV and SW was accompanied by a fall of TPR and deltaP/deltaV. LV wall stiffness was still elevated above normal after 3 weeks. The improvement of cardiac pumping during infarct convalescence may have been effected through a fall of TPR and LV wall stiffness. Recovery of depressed contractile performance was generally not observed, and does therefore not seem to contribute to recuperation.