EFFECT OF THE MYOCARDIUM NON-UNIFORMITY ON THE HEART FUNCTIONAL RESERVE

Abstract

The goal of this study is to understand the role of structural-and-functional inhomogeneity (SFI) in the left ventricular (LV) wall. According to the peculiarities of heart diseases development, we supposed the existence of causal relationship between SFI and the heart functional reserve, i.e. an ability to maintain pump function in case of additional load. Here, we looked into the functional aspect of SFI phenomenon. Sixteen IHD patients with a different extent of coronary artery stenotic lesion were chosen for this investigation. The patients were underwent the transesophageal ultrasound examinations, and LV 3D reconstruction was performed. To estimate the extent of the functional non-uniformity, the myocardium elastic properties in LV wall regions and LV regional motion were defined. We found out a strong inverse correlation between the extent of LV functional non-uniformity and the heart functional reserve, estimated as a patients' tolerance to physical load. We concluded that the transition of functional myocardium non-uniformity due to IHD development reflects the exhaust of heart functional reserve.