Key result
Alcohol depresses myocardial contractility, with heightened sensitivity in preexisting heart muscle disease.
Why the study?
The effects of alcohol on heart muscle vary according to dose, route, duration, frequency, measured parameters, and pathologic state, requiring comprehensive exploration.
Does alcohol affect myocardial contractility in humans and animals?
Does alcohol affect myocardial contractility in humans and animals?
Alcohol ingestion decreases myocardial contractility, particularly in individuals with underlying heart muscle disease or chronic alcohol use.
May warrant alcohol caution in heart disease; leaves open precise thresholds for randomized trials.
The effects of alcohol on heart muscle have been explored in numerous studies of normal and diseased humans, intact animals, and isolated animal heart muscle preparations. The results vary according to dose, route, duration, and frequency of administration, parameters measured, and pathologic state of subjects. Most studies indicate that alcohol in sufficient doses decreases myocardial contractility. The dose required for this effect in humans may be lower if there is clinical evidence of heart muscle disease or if the subject has ingested substantial amounts of alcohol for a long time.
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Arthur L. Klatsky (1982) conducted a review in Cardiovascular system / Heart muscle. Alcohol was evaluated on Myocardial contractility. Alcohol in sufficient doses decreases myocardial contractility, with lower doses required in subjects with heart muscle disease or chronic substantial alcohol ingestion.
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