Atrial transport function in coronary artery disease: Relation to left ventricular function

The atrial contribution to ventricular stroke volume was evaluated in 50 patients with coronary artery disease and found to be related to left ventricular function. All patients underwent complete hemodynamic and angiographic studies. Angiographic volume studies were utilized to determine atrial contribution to the stroke volume, end-systolic volume and ejection fraction. In 11 patients without heart disease, atrial contribution to stroke volume was (mean value ± standard deviation) 9.3 ± 6 ml/m2compared with 13.5 ± 6 ml/m2in the patients with coronary disease (probability [p] 0.50) had an atrial contribution greater than 40% of stroke volume. The ratio of peak left ventricular systolic pressure/end-systolic volume (mm Hg/ml) was 2.7 ± 1.5 in patients (n = 14) with an atrial contribution greater than 40% of stroke volume compared with 5.3 ± 3.4 in patients having an atrial contribution of 40% or less (p < 0.01). These findings indicate that atrial contribution to stroke volume is inversely related to left ventricular function.