INTRACARDIAC ACETYLCHOLINE INFUSION AND LEFT HEART DYNAMICS IN RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE

Abstract
Right heart acetyl-choline infusion was employed in the course of combined right and left heart catheterization in 14 patients with rheumatic heart disease. Left atrial mean pressure and the mean diastolic mitral gradient and the mean systolic aortic gradient were not altered by acetyl-choline infusion. Pulmonary arterial pressure fell only slightly after acetylcholine infusion. Acetylcholine offers little promise as a clinically useful pulmonary vasodilator agent.