799-3 Left Ventricular Function and Immunohistological Findings in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Follow-up Study

Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies and biplane left ventricular (LV) angiocardiography with high fidelity pressure measurements were performed in 32 patients (pts) with dilated cardiomyopathy. LV systolic function was assessed by the ejection fraction (ef; %). Parameters of LV diastolic function were: time constant of relaxation (T; ms), constant of myocardial stiffness (stress-strain relationship, b) and the relation of early to late peak filling rate (epfr/lpfr). Immunohistological evaluation revealed lymphocytic infiltration and increased expression of human leucocyte class I and II antigens (HLA) in 15 pts (P). At follow-up after 6 months myocardial inflammation resolved in 8 pts (FU). Ventricular function was compared to 17 pts with no inflammation (C). Systolic function was equally disturbed in all groups. Diastolic dysfunction was more pronounced in pts with myocardial inflammation and improved with resolvement of inflammation:EFLMMEDVEDPTbepfr/lpfrC3314116616113281.39P3514817324†10451†1.70†FU3314116616*11332*1.39*EF: ejection fraction, LMM: muscle mass index (g/m2), EOV: end-diastolic volume index (m1/m2) EDP: end-diastolic pressure (mmHg).*p<0.05 vs. P.†p<0.05 vs. CThusMyocardial inflammation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy causes a pronounced increase of diastolic myocardial stiffness. Spontaneous resolvement of inflammatory signs is parallaled by improvement of LV diastolic, but not systolic function