ASSESSMENT OF DIASTOLIC FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY BY DOPPLER TISSUE IMAGING

Objective To determine the clinical application of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging in assessing the left ventricular diastolic function and in discriminating between normal subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with various stages of diastolic dysfunction.Methods We measured the peak diastolic velocities of mitral annulus in 81 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with various stages of diastolic dysfunction and 50 normal volunteers by Doppler tissue imaging using the apical window at 2-chamber and long apical views, respectively. The myocardial velocities were determined with use of variance F statistical analysis.Results Early diastolic myocardial velocities ofmitral annulus were higher in normal subjects than in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with either delayed relaxation, pseudonormal filling, or restrictive filling. However, peak myocardial velocities of mitral annulus during atrial contraction were similar in normal subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Conclusion Doppler tissue imaging can directly reflect upon left diastolic ventricular function. Early phase of diastole was the best discriminator between control subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.