To assess the determinants of the abnormal ejection
fraction response to exercise,
we performed radionuclide angiography at rest and during
exercise in 41 hypertensive patients without coronary artery disease. In 22 patients (group 1),
the ejection fraction increased more than 5% during exercise; in the other 19 patients (group
2), the ejection fraction either increased by less than 5% or decreased with exercise. Left
ventricular diastolic filling was impaired at rest in patients in group 2 compared with group 1,
with reduced peak filling rate (2.5±0.4 vs. 3.1±0.7 end-diastolic volume/sec; p