Relation between exercise-induced changes in ejection fraction and systolic loading conditions at rest in aortic regurgitation

To examine the role of systolic wall stress at rest in determining left ventricular performance during exercise in aortic regurgitation (AR), systolic wall stress (measured by M-mode echocardiography) was related to changes in left ventricular function during maximal exercise (evaluated by radionuclide ventriculography) in 30 patients with chronic aortic regurgitation. Of these 30 patients, 7 had a normal exercise response, defined as an absolute increase in ejection fraction of 5% or greater (Group I) and 23 had abnormal exercise response, defined as no change (less than 5% change) or a decline (less than or equal to 5%) in ejection fraction (Group II). Patients in Group I had a significantly lower radius/wall thickness ratio (2.5 +/- 0.2 versus 3.1 +/- 0.1, p less than 0.01) and lower peak systolic wall stress (123 +/- 11 versus 211 +/- 12 X 10(3) dynes/cm2, p less than 0.01) than patients in Group II. An increase in ejection fraction during exercise was seen in 6 of the 9 patients with normal systolic wall stress at rest (less than 150 X 10(3) dynes/cm2), but in only 1 of 21 patients with elevated systolic wall stress (p less than 0.001). Peak systolic wall stress at rest varied linearly, and inversely with changes in left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise (r = 0.60, p less than 0.001). Groups I and II did not differ in ejection fraction at rest, clinical symptoms or maximal work load achieved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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