The relationship between altered load and impaired diastolic function in conscious dogs with pacing induced heart failure

Abstract

The complexities of diastolic dysfunction are being recognized with increasing frequency. Prior studies of diastolic dysfunction in both clinical disease states and experimental models have overlooked the major role which altered loading conditions may play in the evolution of diastolic dysfunction. In order to determine the relative importance of the multiple determinants of diastolic dysfunction in disease states requires a large animal model, suitable for chronic study in which the determinants can be controlled independently. This manuscript reviews recent work from our laboratory in which we investigated the mechanisms of diastolic dysfunction in conscious dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy induced by rapid ventricular pacing.