Relationship between changes in left-ventricular contraction periods caused by ethanol and the functional state of the ventricle
Dubiel, J.P.; Bielecki, A.; Horzela, T.
Kardiologia Polska 23(3): 195-204
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-9032 PMID: 7189562 Document Number: 167812
The effect of a single ethanol dose (1 ml of 96% ethanol/1 kg of body wt) on the periods of left ventricular contraction was studied in 10 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and adequate function of the left ventricle. Results were compared with those of similar investigations carried out in 15 healthy subjects and 15 patients with primary congestive cardiomyopathy and failing left ventricle. The subjects in all groups gave a history of ethanol abuse. The initial values of left ventricular contraction periods in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were similar in healthy subjects. In the group of patients with primary congestive cardiomyopathy disturbances were found typical of myocardial failure: prolongation of the pre-ejection time and isovolumetric contraction time, shortening of the ejection time and increased ratio of pre-ejection time to ejection time. The value of these changes depends on the initial functional state of the left ventricle: the greater the initial disturbances in left ventricular contraction periods, the lower the changes produced by a single dose of ethanol.