THE EFFECT OF BRADYCARDIA ON VENTRICULAR END-DIASTOLIC PRESSURE.

‘Abnormal’ ventricular end-diastolic pressures (RVEDP, LVEDP) have been observed in patients with bradycardia. In order to assess the effect of heart rate (HR) on R and LVEDP in the absence of demonstrable heart disease, the data recorded from 97 patients adjudged to have no significant heart disease after routine right and left heart catheterization were reviewed. Nine patients had ‘abnormal’ elevations of R or R and LVEDP. These patients did not differ significantly from the other eighteen in terms of age, cardiac index (CI), arterio-venous oxygen difference or oxygen consumption. There was a significant difference in HR (P = 0.005 - 0.001) and pulmonary artery pres- sure (P = 0.005 - 0.001). The combination of a normal CI and relative bradycardia caused a significantly larger stroke index (60.9 versus 45.8 cc, P < 0.001) in the nine patients with elevated VEDP's. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]