Cardiac mechanics during development of heart failure. SOLVD Investigators.

BACKGROUND: The changes in myocardial performance responsible for the progression from a stage of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction toward overt congestive heart failure are still poorly understood. Accordingly, using invasive methods, we examined the differences in baseline left ventricular function between a subgroup of patients enrolled in the treatment arm (presence of congestive heart failure) and in the prevention arm …