The influence of exercise on left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, left ventricular performance and electrocardiogram in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
To investigate exertional changes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 42 patients with HCM were studied by echocardiography and ECG at a supine ergometer exercise. In 12 cases with left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction at rest (Group I), systolic anterior movement (SAM) of mitral valve was intensified during exercise; and among 30 cases without obstruction at rest (Group II), in 6 cases (Group IIA) SAM appeared during exercise. SAM might be further intensified 1 minute after exercise. Inverted T-wave was seen at rest especially in Group IIB (no SAM both at rest and during exercise), and tended to become less deep during exercise with an increase of LV wall motion. In conclusion, in HCM, LV outflow tract obstruction may be produced or intensified during exercise. Inverted T-wave in HCM may become less deep during exercise, with accelerated LV function.