Increase in left ventricular ejection rate during recovery from exercise in patients with myocardial infarction.

Changes in left ventricular (LV) ejection rate were evaluated during supine bicycle exercise and recovery in 12 patients with anterior myocardial infarction. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (34 +/- 9 to 14 +/- 5 mm Hg) and plasma norepinephrine level decreased at 2 min recovery from peak exercise, whereas plasma lactate tended to increase. As a result, LV ejection rate reached the highest value at 2 min of recovery. Thus, both cardiac (optimal filling pressure) and peripheral factors (reduced vascular resistance) caused the increase in LV ejection rate at early recovery.