Left ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to study in left ventricular function in uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction [AMI] by Doppler echocardiography. The study included 30 male patients with uncomplicated AMI [study group] and 30 healthy subjects [control group]. All patients were subjected to clinical examination, ECG, chest X-ray, serum cardiac enzyme profile and full echo-Doppler study. The study showed that both systolic and diastolic BP were significantly increased [P <0.05] in patients with AMI compared with control group but heart rate was not statistically significant [P >0.05] between cases and controls. The diastolic and systolic parameters were significantly impaired in AMI patients compared with control group. Both systolic and diastolic parameters abnormalities in AMI correlated with the site of infarction. They were more significantly impaired in anterior compared with inferior wall MI. It was concluded that Doppler technique is a useful tool in identifying both systolic and diastolic abnormalities. It is a valuable method for initial assessment of severely ill patients with AMI and for serial assessment of a patient response to drug therapy