Evaluation of a Doppler-derived index combining systolic and diastolic left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction

Assessment of left ventricular (LV) function is crucial in the immediate postinfarction period. The authors evaluated the clinical applicability of the Doppler-derived myocardial performance index (MPI, defined as the sum of isovolumic contraction and relaxation times divided by LV ejection time) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as to whether this index reflects the severity of LV dysfunction in this subgroup of patients. Post-AMI patients (n = 33) were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (n = 35). Within 24 hours of the AMI and 1 month thereafter, patients underwent 2D and Doppler echocardiography. Patients were divided into group A (Killip Class I, n = 22) and group B (Killip Class II-III, n = 11). The authors measured the LV ejection fraction (EF), diastolic indices (transmitral E and A waves, E/A ratio, deceleration time [DT], isovolumic contraction time [IVCT], isovolumic relaxation time [IVRT], MPI, LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volume indices [ESVi and EDVi] and wall motion score index [WMSi]). One-year mortality was also assessed. There was no significant difference concerning E and A waves, E/A ratio, and IVRT between the 2 groups. There were highly statistical differences at day 1 for EF (59.3 +/- 6.7% vs 36.8 +/- 4.5%, p<0.0001), DT (0.160 +/- 0.030 sec vs 0.127 +/- 0.022, p<0.005), MPI (0.344 +/- 0.084 vs 0.686 +/- 0.120, p<0.0001), ESVi (28.4 +/- 3.9 mL/m2 vs 46.2 +/- 8.4, p<0.001), and WMSi (1.58 +/- 0.06 vs 1.88 +/- 0.35, p=0.05), which persisted after 1 month. One-year mortality was significantly (0 vs 27.3%, p<0.01) lower in group A patients. This study shows that the MPI, reliably indicated LV dysfunction post-AMI, significantly correlated with clinically determined functional class, and possibly has some prognostic implication.     

Effects of anesthesia on diastolic function in mice assessed by echocardiography

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic echocardiography is the predominant diagnostic tool to evaluate systolic and diastolic cardiac function noninvasively in mice. It is known that systolic function is substantially influenced by anesthetic agents used for sedation during echocardiography. However, the effect on diastolic function has not been investigated yet. The following study was conducted to evaluate the influence of different agents on diastolic left ventricular function in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect of ketamine/xylazine (K/X), ketamine/midazolam (K/M), and tribromoethanol (TBE, Avertin) on diastolic function was measured 5, 15, and 25 minutes after the onset of anesthesia. Ratio of peak early-to-late myocardial diastolic velocities (Ea/Aa; determined by tissue Doppler imaging; TDI), ratio of peak transmitral early (E)- and late-diastolic velocity (E/A), deceleration time (DT), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) correlated significantly with heart rate (HR). Overall, increasing HR contributed to a decrease of E/A-, Ea/Aa ratio, IVRT, and DT, whereas agents characterized by the strongest variation of HR (K/M and TBE) were associated with the greatest effect on diastolic function. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular diastolic function in mice, determined by echocardiography, is dependent on anesthetic agent and timing of measurements after onset of anesthesia.     

超声心动图评估肥胖对心脏结构和舒张功能的影响

目的:研究肥胖对心脏结构和左室舒张功能的影响以及比较左室舒张功能各项评价指标的敏感性。方法:选择100名健康体检者,根据体质指数分为正常体重组(对照组,25例),超重组(45例),肥胖组(30例)。应用常规超声心动图、组织多普勒成像技术和彩色M型多普勒对其进行检测,并对各组的心脏结构和左室舒张功能参数进行对比分析。结果:与对照组比较,超重组与肥胖组的左房、左室增大,室壁增厚,左室重量指数增加,二尖瓣瓣环舒张早期峰值运动速度(Ea)、Ea/二尖瓣瓣环舒张晚期峰值运动速度比值下降,二尖瓣舒张早期血流峰值速度(E)/Ea比值增加(P<0.05);肥胖组E值、E/二尖瓣舒张晚期血流峰值速度(A)比值下降,A值升高,等容舒张时间延长,舒张早期左室血流传播速度减慢(P<0.05)。与超重组比较,肥胖组心脏结构和舒张功能进一步恶化(P<0.05)。结论:肥胖可引起心脏肥大,左室舒张功能下降,且随体质指数的增加改变更明显。肥胖是亚临床左室舒张功能障碍的独立危险因素,在心肌迟缓型左室舒张功能下降阶段,综合多指标分析可提高左室舒张功能评价的准确性。组织多普勒和E/Ea较常规评价左室舒张功能的方法更敏感、有效。     

Evaluation of left ventricular diastolic functions in patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions from right ventricular outflow tract

This study was sought to examine the effects of repetitive monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. Thirty-three symptomatic patients (Study group, 10 males, mean age 40 ± 8 years) with normal LV systolic function and repetitive PVCs originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-PVCs) on 24-h Holter monitoring, and 30 healthy controls (Control group, 9 males, mean age 37 ± 9 years) were enrolled in the study. None of the patients had structural heart disease. Diastolic function was assessed by echocardiographic mitral inflow pattern and tissue Doppler imaging. The study group displayed a lower E/A ratio, longer isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), and longer E-wave deceleration time (EDT). In the study group 13 patients showed impaired relaxation. While mean values of the systolic velocity (Sa), early diastolic velocity (Ea), and early/late diastolic velocity (Ea/Aa) ratio were significantly lower in the study group, the Aa velocity and E/Ea ratio were significantly higher. Ea velocity was <10 cm/s in 7 study patients. Mitral inflow pattern and Ea velocity was normal in all controls. Significant correlations were found between ventricular premature beats percentage and early to late transmitral flow velocity ratio, EDT, IVRT, Ea velocity, the Ea/Aa ratio, and the E/Ea ratio. In multivariate analysis, total PVC count and age were found to be independent predictors of impaired relaxation. These results suggest that repetitive monomorphic RVOT-PVCs lead to abnormalities of LV diastolic function that may contribute to clinical symptoms in patients with structurally normal hearts.     

Frühzeitige Einschr?nkung der diastolischen Funktion bei jungen Typ-I-Diabetikern als Erstmanifestation einer diabetischen Herzmuskelerkrankung

INTRODUCTION: The early determination of the myocardial manifestation is of considerable importance, since the prognosis of patients (P) with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is generally masked by secondary cardiac complications. The aim of this study was to investigate whether young, asymptomatic P with IDDM and persisting normal systolic left ventricular (LV) function already show a diastolic LV dysfunction. METHODS: An echocardiographical examination of 92 IDDM patients (age: 25 +/- 4 years) without known cardiac disease and of 50 control persons (C) of similar ages was carried out. P with a cardiac disease or long-term diabetic syndrome were excluded. Using M-mode echocardiography, morphological parameters and systolic time-intervals (fractional shortening; ejection fraction) were determined. Doppler indices were then measured: maximal early and late diastolic flow velocity (VE; VA), E/A ratio, acceleration and deceleration time (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT). RESULTS: Although the left atrial and left ventricular dimensions, as well as the systolic functional parameters of all P with IDDM were normal, they showed a diastolic dysfunction with a reduction of the early diastolic filling (VE; 0.54 +/- 0.07 m/s vs 0.72 +/- 0.04 m/s; p < 0.01) and the E/A ratio (0.9 +/- 0.15 vs 1.99 +/- 0.22; p < 0.01), an increase in the atrial filling (VA; 0.76 +/- 0.05 m/s vs 0.39 +/- 0.04 m/s, p < 0.01), an extension of the IVRT (129 +/- 23 ms vs 78 +/- 6 ms, p < 0.01), and an increased DT (248 +/- 27 ms vs 188 +/- 8 ms, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Even young P with IDDM, with a normal systolic ventricular function, suffer a diastolic dysfunction which serves as a marker of a diabetic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, echocardiography with measurements of systolic and diastolic functional parameters appears to be a sensible method for evaluating the course of diabetic cardiomyopathy.     

Doppler-derived mitral deceleration time: an early strong predictor of left ventricular remodeling after reperfused anterior acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: The relation between remodeling and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function has not yet been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether early assessment of Doppler-derived mitral deceleration time (DT), a measure of LV compliance and filling, may predict progressive LV dilation after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-one patients (aged 61+/-11 years; 6 women) with anterior AMI successfully treated with direct coronary angioplasty underwent 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations within 24 hours of admission, at days 3, 7, and 30 and 6 months after the index infarction. Mitral flow velocities were obtained from the apical 4-chamber view with pulsed Doppler. End-diastolic volume index (EDVI) and end-systolic volume index (ESVI) were calculated with the Simpson's rule algorithm. Patients were divided according to the DT duration assessed at day 3 in 2 groups: group 1 (n=33) with DT >130 ms and group 2 (n=18) with DT 相似文献   

急诊血运重建对急性心肌梗死左心室功能的影响

目的应用二维超声心动图及多普勒组织成像（Doppler tissue imaging，DTI）评价急诊血运重建（包括静脉溶栓或者急诊冠状动脉支架置入术）对急性心肌梗死（acute myocardial infarction，AMI）左心室收缩和舒张功能的影响。方法入院后根据AMI患者治疗方法分为常规组和治疗组。常规组30例给予内科常规治疗；治疗组20例在内科常规治疗基础上实施静脉溶栓或急诊冠状动脉支架置入术。应用DTI检测左心室射血分数、二尖瓣血流舒张早期流速峰值（peak velocity at early diastole，VE）和舒张晚期流速峰值（peak velocity at late diastole，VA）比值（VE／VA），DTI成像模式检测二尖瓣环后间隔、侧壁、前壁、下壁、前间隔和后壁6个节段的收缩期运动速度峰值（peak velocity during systole，Sa）、舒张早期运动速度峰值（peak velocity at early diastole，Ea）和心房收缩期流速峰值（peak velocitv at atrial contraction，Aa），并计算Ea／Aa比值。各取6个节段的平均值。结果所有AMI患者于发病后1周、3月末左心室射血分数、VE／VA、Sa、Ea和Ea／Aa均较对照组降低；予急诊血运重建的AMI患者于AMI发病后3个月S。和E。较本组发病后1周增高，并较未行急诊血运重建干预组（常规组）发病后3个月增高。结论AMI后左心室收缩和舒张功能受损，实施急诊血运重建可以有效改善心脏功能．应用DTI技术检测二尖瓣环运动速度可以精确反映AMI患者局部节段性心功能的恢复。     

自发高血压大鼠左心室心肌胶原含量与舒张功能的相关性研究

目的测定自发高血压大鼠(SHR)左心室心肌胶原含量和舒张功能的参数,探讨二者的相关性,并揭示它们的增龄性改变。方法雄性SHR共30只(8、14周和20周各8只,32周6只),行组织多普勒成像(TDI)检测左心室舒张功能。处死后取左心室心肌,用羟脯氨酸试剂盒测定羟脯氨酸含量;反转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原的mRNA表达。结果 TDI显示,二尖瓣环舒张早期速度(Ea)随增龄减低(P0.05),二尖瓣环舒张早期与晚期速度比值(Ea/Aa)32周比8周时减低(P0.01),左心室等容舒张时间(TVRT)随增龄延长(P0.05),Tei指数随增龄增加(P0.05)。心肌羟脯氨酸含量、Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原的mRNA表达随增龄均增加(均为P0.05)。羟脯氨酸含量、Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原mRNA表达与TDI指标Ea、Ea/Aa均早负相关(r=-0.713～-0.431,P0.001～0.05),与IVRT均呈正相关(r=0.427～0.721,P0.001～0.01),与Tei指数均呈正相关(r=0.413～0.576,P0.001～0.01)。结论 SHR左心室心肌胶原含量呈增龄性增加,舒张功能呈增龄性降低,二者具有相关性。     

Mitral flow propagation velocity assessed with M-mode color Doppler in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy]

BACKGROUND: The role of diastolic disfunction in the setting of severe left ventricular (LV) disfunction is usually forgotten due to difficulties in quantification and interpretation. The propagation velocity (PV) of mitral inflow into the left ventricle has been proposed as a load independent indicator of LV diastolic function. Our aim was to correlate PV with age, body surface, chambers dimensions, wall thickness and with classic parameters of systolic and diastolic function. We had in mind the validation of this index in the quantification of LV filling and in risk stratification of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 32 consecutive patients, mean age 56.1 +/- 15.7 years, 22 (68.75%) male, mean ejection fraction 28.1 +/- 7.5%. All of them were in NYHA class < or = II and on ACE inhibitors. Eight (25%) were on beta-blockers. Patients without sinus rhythm, paced or with significant hypertensive, congenital or valvular heart disease were previously excluded. The following parameters of LV systolic function were assessed by echocardiography: fractional shortening, ejection fraction and cardiac output. LV filling was assessed by transmitral flow pulsed Doppler analysis: isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), peak E and A wave velocities, E wave deceleration time (DT). We also evaluated a new Doppler index of combined systolic and diastolic myocardial performance (Tei index). PV (cm/s) was calculated by Color M-mode. Univariate regression analysis was performed (PV as dependent variable). RESULTS: We detected a high prevalence of diastolic function disturbances: 25 (78.1%) patients with a delayed relaxation pattern and only 3 (9.4%) with a restrictive pattern. PV did not correlate with age, body surface and LV geometry. There was a significant correlation between PV and E/A ratio (r = 0.61; p < 0.0001), IVRT (r = -0.50; p = 0.006), DT (r = -0.41; p = 0.01) and Tei index (r = -0.36; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that, in patients with a predominance of delayed relaxation, there is a strong relationship between PV and the classic parameters of LV filling. For similar levels of systolic impairment, PV could be an easy, fast and reproducible quantitative indicator of severity on DC.     

Long-term prognostic value of an index of myocardial performance in patients with myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: The Tei index of myocardial performance (IMP), which combines parameters of both systolic and diastolic ventricular function, is a useful prognostic factor in many clinical settings. HYPOTHESIS: This study assessed the long-term prognostic value of IMP in patients discharged from hospital after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Doppler/echocardiographic studies were recorded in 90 consecutive patients on Day 14 +/- 2 following an AMI. The IMP was calculated from the Doppler recordings, as a sum of isovolumetric contraction time and isovolumetric relaxation time, divided by the ejection time. RESULTS: The patients were followed for an average (SD) of 57.8 (16.1) months. During this period there were 22 (24%) cardiac events, defined as cardiac deaths (10) or nonfatal recurrent myocardial infarctions (12). After multivariate Cox analysis, Tei index > 0.55 (relative risk [RR] 4.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-15.45; p = 0.019), LV end-systolic volume > 65 ml (RR 3.23; 95% CI 1.34-7.79; p = 0.009), and mitral E wave deceleration time < or = 0.145 s (RR 2.94; 95% CI 1.24-6.92; p = 0.014) were the only independent predictors of cardiac events during the follow-up period. In a subgroup of patients with preserved LV systolic function (ejection fraction > 0.40), IMP was the only predictor of cardiac events (RR 6.37; 95% CI 1.32-30.77, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The Tei index of myocardial performance, which is simple and easy to calculate, is a useful tool for risk assessment in patients following myocardial infarction, and in a subgroup of patients with normal or only mildly impaired systolic function.     

Transplantation of progenitor cells and regeneration enhancement in acute myocardial infarction: final one-year results of the TOPCARE-AMI Trial

OBJECTIVES: The Transplantation of Progenitor Cells And Regeneration Enhancement in Acute Myocardial Infarction (TOPCARE-AMI) trial investigates both safety, feasibility, and potential effects on parameters of myocardial function of intracoronary infusion of either circulating progenitor cells (CPC) or bone marrow-derived progenitor cells (BMC) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: In animal experiments, therapy with adult progenitor cells was shown to improve vascularization, left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and contractility after AMI. METHODS: A total of 59 patients with AMI were randomly assigned to receive either CPC (n = 30) or BMC (n = 29) into the infarct artery at 4.9 +/- 1.5 days after AMI. RESULTS: Intracoronary progenitor cell application did not incur any measurable ischemic myocardial damage, but one patient experienced distal embolization before cell therapy. During hospital follow-up, one patient in each cell group developed myocardial infarction; one of these patients died of cardiogenic shock. No further cardiovascular events, including ventricular arrhythmias or syncope, occurred during one-year follow-up. By quantitative LV angiography at four months, LV ejection fraction (EF) significantly increased (50 +/- 10% to 58 +/- 10%; p < 0.001), and end-systolic volumes significantly decreased (54 +/- 19 ml to 44 +/- 20 ml; p < 0.001), without differences between the two cell groups. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging after one year revealed an increased EF (p < 0.001), reduced infarct size (p < 0.001), and absence of reactive hypertrophy, suggesting functional regeneration of the infarcted ventricles. CONCLUSIONS: Intracoronary infusion of progenitor cells (either BMC or CPC) is safe and feasible in patients after AMI successfully revascularized by stent implantation. Both the excellent safety profile and the observed favorable effects on LV remodeling, provide the rationale for larger randomized double-blind trials.     

Evidence of left ventricular dysfunction in asymptomatic elderly patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a distinct entity in diabetic patients with congestive heart failure, who have no angiographic evidence of significant coronary artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function in 24 elderly patients (mean age 67 +/- 2 years) with type 2 diabetes, who were asymptomatic and had no history of hypertension, or coronary or valvular heart disease. LV systolic indices (ejection fraction [EF] and fractional shortening [FS]), diastolic indices (E wave, A wave, E/A ratio, isovolumic relaxation time [IVRT] and deceleration time [DT]) and the myocardial performance index (MPI) were evaluated with echocardiography. Compared to controls (24 age- and gender-matched normal subjects), the E wave was reduced (0.60 +/- 0.10 m/sec vs 0.72 +/- 0.08 m/sec, p < 0.05), the A wave was increased (0.77 +/- 0.07 m/sec vs 0.68 +/- 0.06 m/sec, p < 0.05), the E/A ratio was decreased (0.78 +/- 0.20 vs 1.06 +/- 0.18, p < 0.001) and both IVRT and DT were prolonged (0.115 +/- 0.01 sec vs 0.09 +/- 0.01 sec, p < 0.001 and 0.240 +/- 0.04 sec vs 0.180 +/- 0.03 sec, p < 0.001, respectively). The MPI was significantly increased (0.640 +/- 0.170 vs 0.368 +/- 0.098, p < 0.001). LV diastolic function and the MPI are markedly impaired in asymptomatic elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Doppler-derived mitral deceleration time as an early predictor of left ventricular thrombus after first anterior acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: The relation between left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and LV thrombus has not yet been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether early assessment of Doppler-derived mitral deceleration time (DT), a measure of LV compliance and filling, may predict LV thrombus formation after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations were performed in 98 consecutive patients (aged 57 +/- 12 years; 8 women) with first acute myocardial infarction. The patients were studied within 24 hours and at days 3, 7, 15, and 30 after arrival to the coronary care unit. Mitral flow velocities were obtained from the apical 4-chamber view with pulsed Doppler. LV thrombus was detected in 20 of 98 patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to LV thrombus formation: group 1 (n = 20) with thrombus and group 2 (n = 78) without thrombus. Mitral E-wave DT was significantly shorter in group 1 than group 2 (134 ms vs 175 ms; P <.001). Patients in group 1 had significantly larger LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and a higher wall motion score index than patients in group 2 (133 +/- 39 mL vs 112 +/- 41 mL, P =.03; 83 +/- 34 mL vs 59 +/- 30 mL, P =.003; and 1.8 +/- 0.3 mL vs 1.5 +/- 0.3 mL, P =.007, respectively). The LV ejection fraction was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (39% +/- 13% vs 48% +/- 12%; P =.004). In a multivariate regression analysis, mitral E-wave DT was identified as an independent variable related to development of LV thrombus (P =.04). CONCLUSIONS: Doppler-derived mitral DT is superior to conventional clinical and 2-dimensional echocardiographic assessment in estimating the risk of left ventricular thrombosis after myocardial infarction.     

The influence of thrombolytic therapy on selected parameters of left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction

Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of thrombolytic therapy on some left ventricle (LV) function parameters in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The study was performed on 44 pts admitted to hospital due to acute myocardial infarction. The patients were divided into two groups: I group--30 pts (26 male, 4 female) at average age 57 +/- 10 who were treated with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) routinely and II group--14 pts (9 male, 5 female) at average age 62 +/- 10 in whom thrombolytic therapy was contraindicated for various reasons. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed just before treatment (0), 3.5 hours after the onset of drug administration (2 hours after the end of t-PA injection) (1) and on the 10th day of hospitalization (2). Control group consisted of 16 clinically healthy individuals (12 male, 4 female) at average age 54 +/- 9. The following parameters were evaluated: DT-E--wave of early diastolic transmitral flow deceleration time, IVRT--isovolumic relaxation time, E/A--early/atrial peak flow velocity ratio of transmitral flow, LATEF%--left atrial total emptying fraction, EF--left ventricle ejection fraction. In patients with acute myocardial infarction shortening of DT, prolongation of IVRT, lower E/A ratio and decrease of LATEF% compared to controls were observed. In group I EF was less than in clinically healthy individuals. E/A ratio was higher in pts from group I than from group II. In patients treated with t-PA 2 hours after treatment as well as on the 10th day significant prolongation of DT, shortening of IVRT and increase of LATEF% were observed. These changes were accompanied by the increase of EF. In patients with acute myocardial infarction not treated with t-PA significant increase in E/A ratio and EF on 10th day were observed. On the basis of the results were conclude: In patients with acute myocardial infarction LV diastolic function and with unproper relaxation as well as unproper compliance of LV myocardium is present. In patients with thrombolytic therapy LV filling pattern improves just two hours after t-PA administration (DT prolongation, IVRT shortening, LATEF% increase). Such tendency remains on the 10th day after treatment. In patients without thrombolytic therapy slight improvement occurs no sooner than on the 10th day of the MI.     

Prognostic value of global myocardial performance indices in acute myocardial infarction: comparison to measures of systolic and diastolic left ventricular function

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Assessment of global myocardial performance by a single index (ie, the myocardial performance index [MPI]) has been suggested as an appealing alternative to the individual assessment of systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) function We sought to test the prognostic value of MPI in comparison to clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters of LV filling and ejection in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). PATIENTS: Four hundred seventeen consecutive patients with AMI were examined within 24 h of hospital admission. INTERVENTIONS: Doppler echocardiographic measures of systolic, diastolic, and global myocardial performance were assessed within 24 h of hospital admission. In addition to MPI (ie, the sum of the isovolumic time intervals divided by ejection time), we determined the isovolumic/heterovolumic time ratio, which expresses the time "wasted" by the myocardium to generate and decrease LV pressure without moving blood. RESULTS: The end points of the study at 30 days were death (4.7%), congestive heart failure (23%), and recurrent infarction (4.8%), and occurred in 109 patients, who were compared as group B to 314 patients without an event (group A). Multivariate analysis identified only age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.07), LV ejection fraction (LVEF) < or = 40% (OR, 3.82; 95% CI, 2.15 to 6.87), and E-wave deceleration time (EDT) of < or = 130 ms (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.0 to 5.21) as independent predictors of adverse events. CONCLUSION: LVEF and EDT are powerful and independent echocardiographic predictors of poor outcome following AMI, and are superior to indexes of global LV performance. Both parameters should be taken into consideration when deciding about the management of these patients.     

Assessing the effect of low dose dobutamine on various diastolic function indexes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low dose dobutamine (LDD) on various diastolic function parameters in patients without wall motion abnormality. METHODS: Thirty-one volunteer patients who had no regional wall motion abnormality were included in the study. Echocardiographic measurements were taken both at pre-dobutamine and during LDD infusion. The peak E velocity, A velocity, the E/A ratio, deceleration time (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), myocardial performance index (MPI) and flow propagation velocity (FPV) were assessed as left ventricular diastolic function parameters. Tissue Doppler velocities were also obtained in order to calculate the E/Em and Em/Am ratios. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in heart rate, E velocity, A velocity, E/A ratio, E/Em ratio, Em/Am ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure with LDD. With LDD, DT (239+/-40 ms vs. 201+/-31 ms, p<0.001), IVRT (109+/-12 ms vs. 94+/-11 ms, p<0.001) and MPI (0.57+/-0.15 vs. 0.44+/-0.22, p<0.001) were found to be decreased, while there was an increase in FPV (45+/-8 cm/s vs. 59+/-10 cm/s, p<0.001) and ejection fraction (64+/-6% vs. 66+/-7%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Low dose dobutamine (5 mcg/kg of body weight) improves left ventricular relaxation in patients with normal wall motion, while it has no effect on left ventricular filling pressure index.     

Right ventricular dysfunction in chronic heart failure patients

AIM: To evaluate any differences in haemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters in patients with both left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction and in patients with isolated LV systolic dysfunction. STUDY GROUP: One hundred patients with RV systolic dysfunction defined as peak velocity of tricuspid annular motion in systole (Sa)<11.5 cm/s, and 55 patients without RV systolic dysfunction Sa>11.5 cm/s. All patients had LV systolic dysfunction, LV ejection fraction (EF) below 40%, NYHA II-IV. METHODS: LV diameters, volumes and EF were measured by echocardiography. Patients underwent tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of tricuspid annular motion with measurement of peak systolic velocity (Sa), peak early (Ea) and peak late (Aa) diastolic velocities. Right heart catheterization was also performed. RESULTS: Patients with RV systolic dysfunction did not differ from those without RV systolic dysfunction in terms of LV function. Patients with RV systolic dysfunction had larger RV dimension 30.6+/-5.8 vs. 33.9+/-6.7 mm, p<0.002. The patients with RV systolic dysfunction had higher values on right heart catheterization: MPAP 29.6+/-12.1 vs. 24.9+/-11.4 mm Hg, p<0.02, PCWP 20.8+/-10.0 vs. 17.3+/-9.3 mm Hg, p<0.03, PVR 189.9+/-123.3 vs. 137.7+/-94.9 dyn s cm(-5), p<0.008, CVP 7.7+/-5.6 vs. 5.1+/-3.9 mm Hg, p<0.002. The patients with RV systolic dysfunction had more pronounced diastolic dysfunction measured by TDI: Ea 9.9+/-2.3 vs. 11.4+/-2.5 cm/s, p<0.0001 and Aa 13.1+/-4.0 vs. 16.5+/-4.7 cm/s, p<0.000007. CONCLUSION: Patients with heart failure and both left and right ventricular systolic dysfunction showed more serious findings on central haemodynamics as well as more pronounced right ventricular diastolic dysfunction than those with isolated left ventricular systolic dysfunction.     

Left ventricular function in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome before and after treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have yielded disparate results regarding the effect of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome on left ventricular (LV) function. OBJECTIVES: In order to clarify this, we performed a prospective study investigating OSA patients with no history of systemic hypertension, coronary artery disease, myocardial, pericardial or valvular problems, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease before and after treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP). METHODS: Fifteen patients (3 women, 12 men) with an apnoea/hypopnoea index >15 (mean +/- SD = 52 +/- 21) were studied with complete polysomnography, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, M-mode two-dimensional echocardiography and pulsed Doppler echocardiography in two phases, i.e. before and after 12-14 weeks of nCPAP therapy. We measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) separately in the daytime and night-time, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), the ratio of peak early filling velocity (E) to peak late velocity (A) diastolic transmitral flow (E/A), posterior wall thickness (PWT) and septal thickness (IVST). The shortening fraction (SF) was also calculated. Eleven overweight non-apnoeic normal subjects matched for age were used as the control group. RESULTS: Our results showed that the patient group exhibited, before treatment, LV diastolic, but not systolic, dysfunction compared with the normal group (IVRT = 94.3 +/- 11.6 ms, p < 0.05; E/A = 0.94 +/- 0.26, p < 0.02; SF = 39.9 +/- 4.1%, not significant (NS); IVST = 9.9 +/- 1.2 mm, NS; PWT = 8.3 +/- 1.2 mm, NS). Moreover, the patient group developed diastolic hypertension both in the daytime and night-time (BP/diastolic/daytime = 93.3 +/- 9.2 mm Hg, BP/diastolic/night-time = 90.3 +/- 10.7 mm Hg). After 12-14 weeks of nCPAP treatment (no change in body mass index), significant improvement in LV diastolic function and a drop in blood pressure were noticed (IVRT = 85.6 +/- 8.8 ms, p < 0.05; E/A = 1.07 +/- 0.3, p < 0.05; BP/diastolic/daytime = 86.3 +/- 5.5 mm Hg, p < 0.02; BP/diastolic/night-time = 83.9 +/- 8. 6 mm Hg, p < 0.05) in our patient group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that repetitive apnoeas/hypopnoeas are very important factors in the development of both LV diastolic dysfunction and diastolic systemic hypertension in patients with OSA syndrome. Treatment with nCPAP leads to significant improvement in both ventricular function and systemic hypertension.     

Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in a Population Sample of Elderly Men

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Echocardiography with Doppler has been widely used to assess left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. Interpretation of the diastolic indices that are derived, however, is confounded by the effects of physiological aging on the LV diastolic function. In this study, the usefulness of different Doppler-derived indices of LV diastolic function was assessed in elderly subjects by using data from a health screening survey of 584 men aged 70 years. RESULTS: The index of early versus late transmitral blood flow, the E/A ratio, was found to be reduced in the apparently healthy subgroup (n = 195) of the population (0.96 +/- 0.25) compared with previous data from middle-aged subjects. However, E/A ratios similar to those in the apparently healthy subjects were found in subjects with coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Only subjects with systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction < 40%) showed a significantly decreased E/A ratio (0.79 +/- 0.21, P < 0.05) compared with the apparently healthy subjects. Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was, however, significantly prolonged in subjects with CHD or hypertension compared with the apparently healthy subjects (139 +/- 32, 127 +/- 25, and 118 +/- 21 milliseconds, respectively; P < 0.01), whereas the E wave deceleration times (DT) were alike in both apparently healthy and unhealthy subjects. The diastolic and systolic components of the pulmonary venous blood flow were alike in apparently healthy and unhealthy subjects. Left atrial size was increased in all patients with disease, possibly indicating increased preload. CONCLUSION: In this population sample of elderly men, the commonly used E/A ratio did not distinguish between apparently healthy subjects and those with cardiovascular diseases such as CHD or hypertension, which are known to be associated with LV diastolic dysfunction in the middle-aged population. IVRT appeared to be the most sensitive of the Doppler-derived indices of LV diastolic function used in the present study, but for this variable, the differences between apparently healthy subjects and unhealthy subjects were small. Thus, the age-associated changes in LV compliance appear to override the impact of these disorders on indices of LV diastolic function in elderly populations.     

Bone-marrow-derived cell transfer after ST-elevation myocardial infarction: lessons from the BOOST trial

Emerging evidence suggests that bone-marrow-derived stem and progenitor cells can be used to improve cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction. We tested this concept in the randomized, controlled, BOOST (bone marrow transfer to enhance ST-elevation infarct regeneration) clinical trial. Following successful percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, patients received an intracoronary transfer of autologous bone marrow cells (BMCs). After 6 months, global left ventricular ejection fraction, as determined by magnetic resonance imaging, was significantly improved in the BMC-treated group compared with the control group. BMC transfer enhanced left ventricular systolic function, primarily in myocardial segments adjacent to the infarcted area, and also had a positive effect on diastolic function. BMC transfer did not increase the risk of adverse clinical events and did not promote in-stent re-stenosis or proarrhythmic effects. In principle, the effects of BMC transfer on ejection fraction were sustained at 18-month follow-up. Notably, radioactive labeling of BMCs and positron emission tomography showed that these beneficial effects are achieved with limited cardiac homing of BMCs after intracoronary application. Taken together, our studies indicate that intracoronary transfer of autologous BMCs is a safe, promising, and novel approach to further improving systolic function in patients with successful reperfusion after acute myocardial infarction.