What is a normal left ventricular response to stress echo?

A normal left ventricular response to a stress echocardiogram typically includes a slight increase in diastolic left ventricular cavity dimensions. This is because, during stress, the heart works harder to supply more blood to the body, which can lead to some degree of diastolic filling as the ventricles accommodate increased blood return.

During exercise or pharmacological stress, the heart rate increases, and the muscle may remodel slightly to enhance its capacity for filling during diastole. This adaptation is reflective of a healthy heart that is responding appropriately to increased demands.

In contrast, other options describe responses that could indicate pathology. For example, a significant decrease in systolic or diastolic dimensions may suggest impaired myocardial function or contractility, which is not expected in a normal response. Thus, an increase in diastolic dimensions is an appropriate and expected finding in normal left ventricular physiology under stress.