Change of left atrial systolic pressure waveform in relation to left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.

The relation between the left atrial systolic pressure waveform and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was observed in 17 patients who underwent diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Left atrial pressure and left ventricular pressure were simultaneously recorded from a multisensor catheter before and during angiotensin infusion. Left ventricular systolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were 133 +/- 17 and 12.3 +/- 3.2 mm Hg, respectively, before angiotensin infusion and increased to 168 +/- 18 (p less than 0.01) and 19.4 +/- 4.5 mm Hg (p less than 0.01), respectively, during infusion. The left atrial systolic pressure curve consisted of two positive waves--a first wave (A) and a second wave (A'). The A and A' wave pressures were 11.6 +/- 2.3 and 10.2 +/- 3.9 mm Hg, respectively, before angiotensin infusion and 16.5 +/- 2.9 (p less than 0.01) and 18.1 +/- 4.7 mm Hg (p less than 0.01), respectively, during infusion. The ratio of A'/A of left atrial systolic pressure was 0.81 +/- 0.27...