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The effects of isometric exercise on left ventricular function in 16 patients with chronic coronary heart disease were assessed by measuring left ventricular pressures and volumes under basal conditions and during a sustained effort of 2 minutes 30 seconds at 50% of the maximal effort. In 7 patients (Group I) with abnormal elevation of left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (over 4 mmHg) the end diastolic volume remained unchanged and the diastolic pressure-volume curve was displaced upwards. The ejection fraction fell together with the percentage filling during the first part of diastole with 50% filling occurring after 61% instead of 45% of diastole. The time constant T also increased showing abnormal relaxation. In 9 patients without abnormal elevation of LVEDP on exercise no changes in the other parameters studies were observed. Our results show that pathological elevation of LVEDP during isometric exercise is associated with a decreased ejection fraction and an abnormality of left ventricular relaxation with a reduced rate of filling during protodiastole and an upward displacement of the diastolic pressure-volume curve. The LVEDP alone is therefore an important index of the haemodynamic behaviour of the left ventricle during isometric exercise.

We thought chest pain associated with ST segment elevation during exercise test in patients with not significant coronary lesions could be related to coronary spasm. Three patients with mild coronary obstructive lesions underwent coronary arteriography during exercise test. In two patients this hypotesis was supported by angiographic documentation of the coronary spasm.

We have seen a case with spasm of the right coronary artery coming on during exercise ergometry in the course of a coronary arteriogram. The patient had angina pectoris spontaneously and on exercise. Bicycle ergometry was repeated four times by the same method, and was positive in three; in two of these there was angina and ST elevation in II, III, aVF, and ST depression in I, aVL and V2 to V5. On one occasion the test was negative, the patient having taken a trinitrin tablet one hour before the test. Repeating the exercise test during coronary arteriography showed spasm of the right coronary artery and elevation of the segment ST in II, III and aVF; this disappeared after trinitrin treatment.