Changes of heart geometry in patients with ischemic heart disease

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine ventricular and atrial cardiometric parameters at preinfarction and postinfarction stage of ischemic heart disease. OBJECT AND METHODS: Cardiometric parameters (mass, endocardial surface area, the tracts of flow and outflow, etc.) of 132 men (mean age of 49.7+/-8.9 years) who had died suddenly during prehospital period (within 6 hours) after the first or repeated acute event of "pure" ischemic heart disease were investigated. These patients had no other, except ischemia, factors predisposing myocardial hypertrophy as well as clinical symptoms of heart failure. The decedents were divided into preinfarction (71 men) and postinfarction ischemic heart disease (61 men) groups. RESULTS: At preinfarction stage of ischemic heart disease, mass and endocardial surface area of all parts of the heart were increased, the tracts of flow and outflow--longer. At postinfarction stage, only corresponding left ventricular and atrial parameters were more increased. CONCLUSIONS: Eccentric type of left ventricular hypertrophy (proportional increase of mass and endocardial surface area) and concentric type of right ventricular and right and left atrial hypertrophy (the part of myocardium mass per unit of endocardial area is greater) were determined at preinfarction stage of ischemic heart disease. At postinfarction stage, at least as far as evidence of heart failure is not overt, only the corresponding left ventricular and atrial hypertrophy progresses.