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Figure 4 Typical example of ESPVRs at baseline (circles) and at four levels of dobutamine in control (A) and with stenosis (B). The dotted horizontal line indicates the pressure-level at which end-systolic volume (V_ES^IND) is determined. The figures illustrate three typical findings: 1) a substantial rightward shift of end-systolic volumes with stenosis; 2) in control, dobutamine caused a gradual enhanced systolic function, evidenced by the leftward shift and steeper slope; with stenosis, the highest level of dobutamine did not further improve function but rather its ESPVR almost coincided with the baseline relation; 3) the slope of the ESPVR with stenosis was not more shallow, but rather steeper than with control.