Epinephrine Infusion in Man

A standard test was designed for measurement of the effect of epinephrine infusion on systolic time intervals in 14 normal subjects as a dose-response phenomenon. In order that we might examine the sensitivity of the test, it was applied in nine patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Normal subjects had a characteristic response—a progressive shortening of the duration of electromechanical systole, left ventricular ejection time, and pre-ejection period. Their left ventricular ejection time, corrected for heart rate, did not change. Patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis responded to epinephrine infusion with paradoxical lengthening of their left ventricular ejection time, corrected for heart rate. After beta blockade (with propranolol), reinfusion of epinephrine shortened the left ventricular ejection time, corrected for heart rate, to normal levels.