ABSTRACT
After sublingual nitroglycerin, the ejection fraction increased at least 8 percent in 10 of 19 patients (53 percent), changed less than 8 percent in 5 of 19 patients (26 percent), and decreased at least 8 percent in 4 of 19 patients (21 percent). After sublingual nitroglycerin, 16 of 21 areas (76 percent) of hypokinesis improved, 2 (10 percent) did not change, and 3 (14 percent) became worse. After sublingual nitroglycerin, 6 of 6 akinetic areas did not change. After sublingual nitroglycerin, 2 of 3 dyskinetic areas did not change and one improved. Left ventriculography performed before and after sublingual nitroglycerin may be useful in predicting viable areas of ischemic myocardium.
Subject(s)
Coronary Disease/physiopathology , Heart Ventricles/physiopathology , Nitroglycerin , Aged , Coronary Disease/surgery , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial RevascularizationABSTRACT
The New York Heart Association (NYHA) recently designated functional classifications I, II, and III, for angina. In the authors' series of 80 male anginal patients, observations were made on the mean left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) at rest and after left ventriculography and on the percentage of anginal patients with an abnormal LVEDP under these respective circumstances. The findings indicated no significant differences on the basis of NYHA classifications I, II, III. In the author's opinion, the NYHA functional classification cannot be used to distinguish the presence of abnormal left ventricular function in class I, II, and III anginal patients.
