RESUMO
Aims of the study were to determine main pathophysiologic mechanisms of decreased exercise tolerance in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS); to prove the state of hypoxemia by ergospirometry in patients with MS; to reveal with the help of echocardiography lowering of functional activity of the myocardium in MS; to confirm by electron microscopic techniques the presence of perivascular and interstitial fibrosis and fatty infiltration of the myocardium in patients with MS. In the study we have observed 39 patients with MS and 12 healthy individuals. We have noted the decrease of peak oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide excretion during the ergospirometry at anaerobic threshold in patients with MS. Echocardiographic examination has proven the reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac contractile performance. The electron microscopic techniques have shown diffuse-focal interstitial fibrosis, hypertrophy of myocardial cells and fatty infiltration of the myocardium.