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(Circulation. 1999;99:1027-1033.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Investigation and Reports

Impact of Vascular Adaptation to Chronic Aortic Regurgitation on Left Ventricular Performance

William H. Devlin, MD; Janet Petrusha, RN; Kerri Briesmiester, BS; Daniel Montgomery, BS; Mark R. Starling, MD

From the University of Michigan and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, Ann Arbor.

Background—This investigation was designed to test the hypothesis that vascular adaptation occurs in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation to maintain left ventricular (LV) performance.

Methods and Results—Forty-five patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (mean age 50±14 years) were studied using a micromanometer LV catheter to obtain LV pressures and radionuclide ventriculography to obtain LV volumes during multiple loading conditions and right atrial pacing. These 45 patients were subgrouped according to their LV contractility (E_es) and ejection fraction values. Group I consisted of 24 patients with a normal E_es. Group IIa consisted of 10 patients with impaired E_es values (E_es <1.00 mm Hg/mL) but normal LV ejection fractions; Group IIb consisted of 11 patients with impaired contractility and reduced LV ejection fractions. The left ventricular-arterial coupling ratio, E_es/E_a, where E_a was calculated by dividing the LV end-systolic pressure by LV stroke volume, averaged 1.60±0.91 in Group I. It decreased to 0.91±0.27 in Group IIa (P<0.05 versus Group I), and it decreased further in Group IIb to 0.43±0.24 (P<0.001 versus Groups I and IIa). The LV ejection fractions were inversely related to the E_a values in both the normal and impaired contractility groups (r=-0.48, P<0.05 and r=-0.56, P<0.01, respectively), although the slopes of these relationships differed (P<0.05). The average LV work was maximal in Group IIa when the left ventricular-arterial coupling ratio was near 1.0 because of a significant decrease in total arterial elastance (P<0.01 versus Group I). In contrast, the decrease in the left ventricular-arterial coupling ratio in Group IIb was caused by an increase in total arterial elastance, effectively double loading the LV, contributing to a decrease in LV pump efficiency (P<0.01 versus Group IIa and P<0.001 versus Group I).

Conclusions—Vascular adaptation may be heterogeneous in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation. In some, total arterial elastance decreases to maximize LV work and maintain LV performance, whereas in others, it increases, thereby double loading the LV, contributing to afterload excess and a deterioration in LV performance that is most prominent in those with impaired contractility.

Key Words: regurgitation • ventricles • contractility • arteries • elasticity

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