Hemodynamic determinants of the maximal rate of rise of left ventricular pressure

Abstract

The maximal rate of left ventricular pressure development (max. dp/dt) was measured in an areflexic preparation which permitted independent control of stroke volume, heart rate, and aortic pressure. Max. dp/dt increased as a result of elevating ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Elevating mean aortic pressure and increasing heart rate each resulted in a higher max. dp/dt without a change in ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Aortic diastolic pressure was shown to influence max. dp/dt in the absence of changes in ventricular end-diastolic pressure or contractility. Increasing contractility increased max. dp/dt while changing the manner of ventricular activation decreased max. dp/dt. These findings demonstrate that changes in max. dp/dt can and frequently do reflect changes in myocardial contractility. These data also indicate that max. dp/dt is a complex function, subject not only to extrinsically induced changes in contractility, but also to ventricular end-diastolic pressure, aortic diastolic pressure, the manner of ventricular activation, and intrinsic adjustments of contractility.