Does elevated afterload induce diastolic LV dysfunction in healthy hearts of rabbits and dogs?
Elevated afterload induces diastolic LV dysfunction in healthy animal models, suggesting a mechanism for the benefits of vasodilating therapy in heart failure.
Diastolic LV dysfunction was induced by elevated afterload in healthy hearts of rabbits and dogs. If this mechanism could be shown to be operative in the failing heart, reversal of diastolic dysfunction should contribute to the beneficial effects of vasodilating and inotropic therapy on pulmonary congestion.
Adelino Leite‐Moreira (1999) studied this question.