组织多普勒测量二尖瓣环下行速度评价左室收缩功能

目的：用组织多普勒显像技术测量二尖瓣环下行速度评价左室收缩功能。方法：该研究对５０例正常人和进行门控心血池造影后３小时的３０例心肌梗塞患者的收缩期二尖瓣环下行速度进行测量,分别在心尖四腔切面和二腔切面上测量二尖瓣环间隔处（ＭＡＶ－Ｓ）、侧壁处（ＭＡＶ－Ｌ）、前壁处（ＭＡＶ－Ａ）、后壁处（ＭＡＶ－Ｐ）的各点处的速度值,并计算各点均值（ＭＡＶ－Ｍ）。结果：１．心梗患者各点的速度及均值均较正常对照组明显下降,且发现不同部位心梗,其二尖瓣环各点速度下降程度不同;２．将全部受检者的ＭＡＶ－Ｍ与２ＤＥ所测得的ＥＦ进行相关分析,也存在明显相关,相关系数０．８９（Ｐ＜０．００１）。此外,将３０例心梗患者的ＭＡＶ－Ｍ与核素测得的ＥＦ进行相关分析,也存在明显相关,相关系数０．８７（Ｐ＜０．００１）。结论：测量二尖瓣环下行速度可作为一个评价左室收缩功能的新指标。     

应用多普勒组织成像记录二尖瓣环运动速度评价心肌梗塞后

目的　探讨多普勒组织成像 (DTI)记录二尖瓣环运动速度评价心肌梗塞后左室收缩功能和舒张功能的价值。方法　急性心肌梗塞 3 8例 ,年龄匹配的健康者 2 0例 ,于心尖位四腔观、心尖位二腔观二尖瓣环相对应的室间隔、左室前壁、侧壁和后壁记录收缩期峰值速度 (VS)、舒张早期峰值速度 (VE)、舒张晚期峰值速度 (VL)。结果　二尖瓣环收缩期峰值速度、舒张早期峰值速度均降低。结论　多普勒组织成像测定二尖瓣环运动速度开辟了评价心肌梗塞后左室收缩功能和舒张功能的新途径。     

Assessment of left ventricular function using mitral annular velocities in patients with congestive heart failure with or without the presence of significant mitral regurgitation.

Myocardial velocities in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) were studied using pulsed wave Doppler tissue imaging. Velocities were recorded at the mitral and tricuspid annulus. Four sites at the mitral annuli were selected corresponding to the septal, lateral, inferior, and anterior walls of the left ventricle from apical 4- and 2-chamber views. A mean value from the above 4 sites was selected to describe the mitral annular velocities. Only one site of the tricuspid annulus was selected, corresponding to the right ventricular free wall. Three different annular velocities were recorded: the peak systolic, and the peak early and late diastolic velocities. A total of 96 patients were compared with 12 age-matched healthy participants. Patients with CHF had significantly decreased mitral and tricuspid systolic velocities compared with healthy participants (4.9 vs 9.3 cm/s, P <.001, for the mitral annulus and 10.4 vs 14.6 cm/s, P <.001, for the tricuspid annulus). The early diastolic velocity was also reduced in patients compared with healthy participants (5.9 vs 10.9 cm/s, P <.001, for the mitral annulus and 8.6 vs 12.9 cm/s, P <.001, for the tricuspid annulus). Patients with CHF had a severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (27%). The correlation the between systolic mitral annular velocity and EF was relatively good (r = 0.59 and P <.001). The patients with CHF were divided into 2 subgroups depending on the presence or absence of significant mitral regurgitation. There was a correlation between EF and the systolic mitral annular velocity both in patients with (r = 0.61, P <.001) and without (r = 0.59, P <.001) significant mitral regurgitation. In conclusion, compared with healthy participants, the mitral and tricuspid annular velocities are significantly decreased in patients with CHF. The correlation between EF and the systolic mitral annular velocity is relatively good irrespective of the presence or absence of significant mitral regurgitation. Measurements of annular velocities constitute a simple and useful method for evaluating patients with CHF.     

组织多普勒显像技术评价初发心肌梗死患者左室功能

目的探讨组织多普勒显像（DTI）技术在评价初发心肌梗死患者左室功能中的应用价值。方法常规超声心动图检查显示左室收缩及舒张功能正常的初发心肌梗死患者18例及与其年龄匹配的健康对照者15例入选本研究。应用DTI技术二尖瓣环平均运动速度指标评价两组对象的左室功能。同时计算二尖瓣血流舒张早期峰值速度与二尖瓣环舒张早期峰值速度的比值（E／Em）,以评估左室平均充盈压。结果心肌梗死患者组二尖瓣环收缩期峰值速度（Sm）、舒张早期速度（Em）及晚期峰值速度（Am）均明显低于正常对照组（P〈0．05）;心肌梗死组E／Em比值明显高于正常对照组（P〈0．05）。结论DTI技术可以较常规超声心动图更加敏感地检测出初发心肌梗死患者的左室功能异常。     

An evaluation of the use of new Doppler methods for detecting longitudinal function abnormalities in a pacing-induced heart failure model.

BACKGROUND: Doppler tissue echocardiography and color M-mode Doppler flow propagation velocity have proven useful in evaluating cross-sections of patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, but experience with serial changes is limited. Purpose and methods: We tested their use by evaluating the temporal changes of LV function in a pacing-induced congestive heart failure model. Rapid ventricular pacing was initiated and maintained in 20 dogs for 4 weeks. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and weekly during brief pacing cessation. RESULTS: With rapid pacing, LV volume significantly increased and ejection fraction (57%-28%), stroke volume (37-18 mL), and mitral annulus systolic velocity (16.1-6.6 cm/s) by Doppler tissue echocardiography significantly decreased, with ejection fraction and mitral annulus systolic velocity closely correlated (r = 0.706, P <.0001). In contrast to the mitral inflow velocities, mitral annulus early diastolic velocity decreased steadily (12.3-7.3 cm/s) resulting in a dramatic decrease in mitral annulus early/late (1.22-0.57) diastolic velocity with no tendency toward pseudonormalization. The color M-mode Doppler flow propagation velocity also showed significant steady decrease (57-24 cm/s) throughout the pacing period. Multiple regression analysis chose mitral annulus systolic velocity (r = 0.895, P <.0001) and propagation velocity (r = 0.782, P <.0001) for the most important factor predicting LV systolic and diastolic function, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler tissue echocardiography and color M-mode Doppler flow could evaluate the serial deterioration in LV dysfunction throughout the pacing period. These were more useful in quantifying progressive LV dysfunction than conventional ehocardiographic techniques, and were probably relatively independent of preload. These techniques could be suitable for longitudinal evaluation in addition to the cross-sectional study.     

Characteristics of mitral and tricuspid annular velocities determined by pulsed wave Doppler tissue imaging in healthy subjects.

Assessment of myocardial velocities by Doppler tissue imaging is gaining in importance. However, generally accepted reference values are still missing. In this study we examined 62 consecutive healthy subjects (mean age 46, range 22-82 years) by pulsed wave Doppler tissue imaging to characterize the systolic and diastolic velocity profiles of the left and right ventricles. The subjects were divided into 3 different age-groups: group I, younger than 40 years; group II, 40 to 59 years; and group III, 60 years and older. Recordings were made along the long axis in the apical 4- and 2-chamber views by using 4 sites (septal, anterior, lateral, and inferior) at the mitral annulus and 1 site at the tricuspid annulus. Systolic mitral annular velocity (10.3 +/- 1.4 cm/s) correlated strongly with global left ventricular function determined by M-mode echocardiographic mitral annular displacement (r = 0.70, P <.001). The systolic velocity was significantly lower in group III than in group I (9.6 vs 10.8 cm/s, P <.01). A relatively weak, but significant, correlation was found between systolic velocity and the age of the subjects (r = -0.43, P <.001). Mitral annular early diastolic velocity was also lower in group III compared with group I (11.3 vs 17.7 cm/s, P <.001), with a strong correlation with age (r = -0.81, P <.001) and other conventional Doppler diastolic parameters. Both the systolic and early diastolic mitral annular velocities at the septum were lower than at other left ventricular sites. Tricuspid annular systolic velocity (15.2 +/- 1.9 cm/s) was higher than mitral annular systolic velocity (P <.001). Unlike mitral annular velocity, systolic tricuspid annular velocity was not correlated with age. However, the diastolic tricuspid annular velocities correlated well with transtricuspid Doppler diastolic parameters. The method of recording the annular velocities was feasible in all subjects, simple and highly reproducible.     

Effects of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy on longitudinal left ventricular dynamics in mitral stenosis: quantitative assessment by tissue velocity imaging.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that mitral annular velocities would improve immediately after relief of mitral stenosis and that serial assessment could be used as an index for quantifying functional changes after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC). METHODS: Longitudinal left ventricular annular velocities were quantified by spectral pulsed wave Doppler tissue velocity imaging in 25 patients (16 women; mean age [+/-SD], 29.2 +/- 8.6 years) who had isolated mitral stenosis and were in sinus rhythm, and were compared with 30 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Echocardiography was performed 1 to 24 hours before PMC and 48 to 72 hours after, and changes in velocities from the lateral and septal corners of the mitral annulus in early diastole, late diastole, isovolumic contraction, and ejection were recorded. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic mitral annular velocities were significantly less in patients with mitral stenosis than in control subjects. After PMC, peak annular velocity of systolic excursion in ejection and peak annular velocity in early diastole showed significant improvement. The change in peak annular velocity in early diastole in the lateral wall correlated well with improvement in the mitral valve orifice area by planimetry (ratio of mitral valve orifice area, 1.92 +/- 0.42; ratio of peak annular velocity in early diastole, 1.36 +/- 0.22; r = 0.65; P <.001). CONCLUSION: Serial evaluation of changes in mitral annular velocities by Doppler tissue imaging aids clinical assessment of immediate improvement in left ventricular function after PMC.     

多普勒组织成像评价陈旧性前间壁心肌梗死患者的左室收缩功能

目的采用多普勒组织成像技术(TDE)测量二尖瓣环收缩期下行速度,评价陈旧性前间壁心肌梗死患者的左室收缩功能。方法对30例正常人和38例陈旧性前间壁心肌梗死患者的二尖瓣环收缩期下行速度(MAV)进行测量,取样容积分别置于心尖四腔心切面及两腔心切面上的二尖瓣环间隔、侧壁、前壁和下壁处,并计算各点均值。结果陈旧性心肌梗死患者各点的收缩期下行速度均较正常对照组下降(P<0.01),以前壁、间壁处为明显。其二尖瓣环下行速度的均值(MAV-m)与Simpson方法测量的左室射血分数EF值有良好的相关性,相关系数为0.91(P<0.01)。结论采用多普勒组织成像技术测量二尖瓣环收缩期下行速度,可作为评价陈旧性心肌梗死患者的左室收缩功能的新指标。     

Left ventricular long-axis changes in early diastole and systole: impact of systolic function on diastole

Impaired long-axis motion is a sensitive marker of systolic myocardial dysfunction, but no data are available that relate long-axis changes in systole with those in diastole, particularly in subjects with diastolic dysfunction and a 'normal' left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction. A total of 311 subjects (including 105 normal healthy volunteers) aged 20-89 years with variable degrees of systolic function (LV ejection fraction range 0.15-0.84) and diastolic function were studied using tissue Doppler echocardiography and M-mode echocardiography to determine mean mitral annular amplitude and peak velocity in systole and early and late diastole. The LV systolic mitral annular amplitude (S(LAX), where LAX is long-axis amplitude) and peak velocity (S(m)) correlated well with the respective early diastolic components (E(LAX) and E(m)) and late diastolic (atrial) components (A(LAX) and A(m)). A non-linear equation fitted better than a linear relationship (non-linear model: S(LAX) against E(LAX), r(2)=0.67; S(m) against E(m), r(2)=0.60; S(LAX) against A(LAX) and S(m) against A(m), r(2)=0.42). After adjusting for age, sex and heart rate, linear relationships of early diastolic (E(LAX), r(2)=0.70; E(m), r(2)=0.60) and late diastolic (A(LAX), r(2)=0.61; A(m), r(2)=0.64) long-axis amplitudes and velocities with the respective values for S(LAX) and S(m) were found, even in those subjects with apparently 'isolated' diastolic dysfunction. Long-axis changes in systole or diastole did not correlate with Doppler mitral velocities. We conclude that ventricular long-axis changes in early diastole are closely related to systolic function, even in subjects with diastolic dysfunction. 'Pure' or isolated diastolic dysfunction is uncommon.     

The role of apically directed intraventricular isovolumic relaxation flow in speeding early diastolic left ventricular filling

Left ventricular (LV) systolic performance has been acknowledged to have a close relation to LV early diastolic filling and LV relaxation. However, the mechanism showing how good LV systolic function enhances the LV early diastolic filling has not been fully elucidated from the viewpoint of intraventricular flow dynamics. Thus, we investigated this issue in 82 patients with suggested coronary artery disease who underwent cardiac catheterization. Apically directed intraventricular isovolumic relaxation flow (IRF) and the propagation velocity of early diastolic filling flow were measured using pulsed and color Doppler echocardiography. LV ejection fraction and LV relaxation time constant tau were obtained in cardiac catheterization. As we were not able to measure the IRF velocity less than 14 cm/s that was limited by a Doppler low-cut filter, we analyzed the data collected from 78 patients with measurable IRF velocity. The IRF velocity significantly correlated with LV ejection fraction (r = 0.74, P <.001) and with LV relaxation time constant tau (r = -0.31, P <.01). The propagation velocity of early diastolic filling flow significantly correlated with the IRF velocity (r = 0.73, P <.001) and also significantly correlated with LV ejection fraction (r = 0.70, P <.001). Good LV systolic performance augments LV early diastolic filling directly, mediated by IRF. A faster IRF velocity may play a role in delivering good LV systolic performance to LV early diastolic filling.     

组织多普勒超声测量二尖瓣环运动速度评价左室舒张功能

目的：用组织多普勒技术测定二尖瓣环舒张期运动速度评价左室舒张功能,方法;对８０全空和进行门控血池造影后３小时的３０例心肌梗患者的舒张期二法瓣环运动速度进行测量,分别在心尖四腔切面和二腔切面上测量二法瓣环间隔处,侧壁处、前壁处及后壁处的各位点舒张早期运动速度峰值Ｅｍ、舒张晚期运动速度峰值Ａｍ及二者的比值Ｅｍ／Ａｍ,并计算各点处的平均值。结果：１．心梗患者各位点的Ｅｍ测值及Ｅｍ／Ａｍ比值较正常对照组明     

组织速度成像定量评价大鼠急性心肌梗死后左室重构的左室收缩功能

目的应用定量组织速度成像结合二维超声心动图对大鼠急性心肌梗死(Acute Myocardial Infarction,AMI) 后左室重构的左室收缩功能进行评价,以探讨定量组织速度成像评价大鼠AMI后左室重构的应用价值.方法 AMI组雌性SD大鼠(n＝12)为样本,正常组大鼠(n＝10)作对照,4周后2组均行超声心动图检查.结果与正常组相比,AMI组的左室舒张末期内径、舒张末期容积显著增加(P＜0.01);左室射血分数、左室后壁增厚率、球形指数、梗死区变薄指数等显著降低(P＜0.01);心脏长轴方向上AMI组二尖瓣环、左室侧壁各节段,短轴方向上前间隔及后壁的基底部、中部定量组织速度成像收缩期峰值速度明显下降(P＜0.05);二尖瓣环收缩期平均峰值速度与左室射血分数、球形指数等呈线性相关(r值分别为0.84 、0.70,P＜0.001).结论定量组织速度成像结合二维超声心动图能较全面、定量和无创性地评价大鼠AMI后左室重构的左室收缩功能.     

三尖瓣环运动速度多普勒组织成像评价下壁心肌梗塞后右室功能

目的 探讨多普勒组织成像(DTI)记录三尖瓣环运动速度评价下壁心肌梗塞后右室功能的价值。方法 急性下壁心肌梗塞病人28例，年龄匹配的健康者20例，于心尖四腔观三尖瓣环相对应的右室游离壁记录收缩期峰值速度(VS)，舒张早期峰值速度(VE)，舒张晚期峰值速度(VA)。结果 急性下壁心肌梗塞组三尖瓣环收缩期峰值速度、舒张早期峰值速度均降低。结论 多普勒组织成像测定三尖瓣环运动速度可作为评价下壁心肌梗塞后右室功能的新方法。     

血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体对射血分数正常心力衰竭患者诊断价值

目的探讨射血分数正常的心力衰竭患者血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体的水平。方法 30例射血分数正常的心力衰竭患者(观察组)与30例体检健康者(对照组)均行超声心动图检查,检测并比较2组血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体水平。结果观察组血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体水平明显高于对照组(P<0.01);血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体水平与心脏彩超指标舒张早期二尖瓣环运动速度(r=-0.395,P<0.01)、舒张早期二尖瓣环运动速度/舒张晚期二尖瓣环运动速度(r=-0.292,P<0.05)、舒张早期二尖瓣血流速度/舒张早期二尖瓣环运动速度(r=-0.529,P<0.01)呈负相关,与左心房内径(r=0.300,P<0.05)及左心室后壁厚度(r=0.262,P<0.05)呈正相关;血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体水平与舒张功能分级、NYHA分级明显相关(P<0.01);N-末端脑钠肽前体诊断射血分数正常心力衰竭的AUC为0.702,最佳诊断界值127.58pg/mL,此时灵敏度为63.3%,特异度为83.3%。结论血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体对诊断左室射血分数正常的心力衰竭及评价心力衰竭严重程度有重要价值。     

多普勒组织成像在心肌梗死患者经皮冠状动脉介入术后的临床应用

目的研究多普勒组织成像（DTI）技术用于心肌梗死（MI）患者经皮冠状动脉介入术（PCI）术后心功能随访的可行性。方法选择86例MI住院患者,根据是否进行PCI术,分为PCI组45例和常规治疗组41例,术前、术后1个月、6个月、12个月行DTI及常规超声心动图检查。结果PCI术后,左室射血分数（EF）及应用DTI技术检测二尖瓣环四点（室间隔、侧壁、前壁、下壁）收缩期主峰S波速度的平均值术后1个月较术前即有明显改善,S波速度与EF之间的相关性较好,且比EF的敏感性更高。DTI二尖瓣环四点的舒张早期与晚期主峰速度e/a比值的平均值术后较术前增大;常规超声心动图二尖瓣口血流舒张早期与晚期主峰速度E/A比值无显著性差异。结论PCI术后,患者整体心脏收缩、舒张功能短期内得到改善;DTI技术观测AMI患者的心功能较常规超声心动图技术敏感性及特异性均高,可作为常规超声心动图的有力补充。     

Correlation of arterial stiffness to left ventricular function in patients with reduced ejection fraction

Heart failure has been divided into heart failure with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and heart failure with reduced EF, because the pathophysiologies of the two conditions are different. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a new indicator of arterial stiffness, and the most conspicuous feature of CAVI is its independence of blood pressure at the time of measurement. Arterial stiffness has been considered to increase LV afterload, which requires special care to avoid the onset of heart failure. We compared the correlation of arterial stiffness as assessed by CAVI to LV function in 44 hypertensive patients with preserved EF (EF: 71 ± 7%) and 31 patients with reduced EF (48 ± 8%). All of patients with reduced EF had history of both hypertension and myocardial infarction. Using Doppler echocardiography, LV diastolic and systolic function was evaluated by measuring peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e') and global LV peak systolic longitudinal strain (GPSLS), respectively. In patients with preserved EF, CAVI was correlated with e' (r = -0.313, p = 0.038), but not with GPSLS (r = 0.207). By contrast, CAVI was correlated with GPSLS (r = 0.604, p < 0.001) as well as e' (r = -0.393, p = 0.029) in patients with reduced EF. Thus, patients with reduced EF showed a closer correlation of arterial stiffness to LV function compared with patients with preserved EF. Therefore, hypertensive patients with reduced EF require a stricter regimen for treating arterial stiffness than their counterparts with preserved EF.     

Doppler tissue analysis of mitral annular velocities: evidence for systolic abnormalities in patients with diastolic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The presence of signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF), abnormal diastolic function and an ejection fraction > 45%, have been defined as diastolic HF (DHF). However, a cut-off value of 45% for ejection fraction seems arbitrary as mild systolic dysfunction may be overlooked. It was the goal of this study to assess the additive information derived from Doppler tissue imaging for patients with DHF. METHODS: As a measure of left ventricular (LV) long-axis function, systolic and diastolic velocities of the mitral annulus (peak, peak early, and peak late) derived from pulsed Doppler tissue imaging were assessed in 36 asymptomatic control subjects, 36 patients with DHF, and 35 patients with systolic HF (SHF). As a measure of overall LV performance, the Tei index (isovolumic contraction time and isovolumic relaxation time divided by ejection time) was assessed. RESULTS: In the DHF group, peak systolic annular velocity was reduced (7.1 +/- 1.2 cm/s) as compared with the control group (9.0 +/- 1.2 cm/s, P <.05), and was even lower in the SHF group (5.0 +/- 0.7 cm/s, P <.01 SHF group vs DHF/control groups). The Tei index was increased in the DHF group (0.53 +/- 0.14) in comparison with the control group (0.39 +/- 0.07, P <.05), and was highest in the SHF group (0.94 +/- 0.43, P <.01 SHF group vs control/DHF groups). Using peak systolic annular velocity < 7.95 cm/s as a cut-off value (derived from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis), patients with DHF were separated from control subjects with a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 83%. A Tei index > 0.43 separated patients with DHF and control subjects with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 72%. CONCLUSION: Systolic long-axis LV function is also impaired in patients with DHF, resulting in feasible diagnosis of DHF by Doppler tissue imaging analysis of LV long-axis function and overall LV function with the Tei index.     

定量组织速度显像技术测定二尖瓣环运动与左室整体收缩功能的评价

目的 :应用超声定量组织速度显像 (QTVI)技术测定二尖瓣环运动速度 ,评价其是否与左室整体收缩功能指标左室射血分数 (L VEF)相关。方法 :5 0例冠状动脉疾病患者 (冠心病组 )和 2 5例正常人 (对照组 ) ,从心尖四腔、两腔和长轴切面观中测定后间隔、侧壁、前壁、下壁、前间隔和后壁六个部位的二尖瓣环收缩期平均峰值速度 (Sm)以及心电图 QRS波起始至二尖瓣环收缩波峰值的时间 (Q- Sm) ,并与心尖四腔观单平面改良 Simpson法所测 L VEF作相关性分析。结果 :冠心病组六个部位的二尖瓣环 Sm平均值 (5 .2 1± 1.12 ) cm / sec与 L VEF呈显著正相关 (r=0 .6 6 ,P<0 .0 0 0 1) ,对照组六个部位的 Sm平均值 (6 .0 2± 0 .83) cm/ sec亦与 L VEF显著正相关 (r=0 .6 5 ,P<0 .0 0 0 1)。 Q- Sm和心率则与 L VEF无显著相关性。结论 :应用 QTVI技术测定收缩期二尖瓣环运动可反映左室整体收缩功能 ,有一定临床应用价值     

Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function in Patients With Apical Ballooning Syndrome Compared With Patients With Acute Anterior ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Functional Paradox

OBJECTIVE: To compare left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients with apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) and those with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and strain rate imaging (SRI).PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with newly diagnosed AMI and ABS who had akinetic apical walls. Both 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and SRI were performed on hospital day 1 or within 24 hours of primary percutaneous coronary intervention.RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with AMI and 13 patients with ABS (mean ± SD age, 63±15 vs 73±12 years; P=.03) were prospectively enrolled in the study from October 3, 2005 through July 12, 2006. The mean ± SD LV end-diastolic volume was larger (58.1±9.1 vs 45.2±10.6 mL/m²; P<.001) and the mean ± SD LV ejection fraction was lower (35%±6% vs 43%±9%; P=.006) in patients with ABS compared with patients with AMI. The early diastolic mitral annular velocity was similar (0.06±0.02 vs 0.06±0.02 m/s; P=.85) in both groups, but the ratio of early diastolic mitral valve inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity was higher in patients with AMI than in patients with ABS (16.3±6.9 vs 12.2±3.2; P=.05). The systolic strain rate was decreased at the apex in both groups (P=.98). Both the early diastolic strain rate of the apex (0.64±0.24 vs 0.48±0.30 s^-1; P=.04) and the postsystolic shortening index of the apex (61%±15% vs 45%±23%; P=.006) were higher in the patients with ABS than in those with AMI. However, early diastolic SR was higher in the akinetic apical walls of patients with AMI with recovery than those with no recovery (0.64±0.35 vs 0.43±0.25 s^-1; P=.04) and was similar between akinetic apical walls of patients with AMI with recovery and the akinetic apical walls of ABS.CONCLUSION: Compared with patients with AMI, those with ABS showed the functional paradox of worse initial LV systolic function with larger LV size but better LV diastolic function. The early systolic strain rate and postsystolic shortening were greater in patients with ABS than in those with AMI; hence, these measurements can be helpful in distinguishing ABS from AMI and in detecting myocardial viability.ABS = apical ballooning syndrome; AMI = acute myocardial infarction; CAG = coronary angiography; E = early diastolic mitral valve inflow velocity; Ea = early diastolic mitral annulus velocity; E/Ea = ratio of early diastolic mitral valve inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity; ECG = electrocardiography; LV = left ventricular; LVEF = LV ejection fraction; PCI = percutaneous coronary intervention; SR = strain rate; SRI = SR imaging; STEMI = ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; WMSI = wall motion score indexThe clinical presentation of apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) mimics that of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Both conditions are characterized by acute onset of chest pain, electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, and increases in cardiac enzymes and apical or midventricular wall motion abnormalities, which often make it difficult to differentiate ABS from AMI, especially during the acute stage. However, management and prognosis of these conditions are different because left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities and LV systolic function in patients with ABS almost always recover in a period of days to weeks compared with patients with AMI, who frequently experience residual wall motion abnormalities even after timely acute reperfusion therapy.The early improvement in LV wall motion abnormalities in patients with ABS is consistent with myocardial viability despite significant LV wall motion abnormalities during the initial event. Therefore, we speculate that ABS is a good clinical model of viable apical myocardium, and comparison of LV systolic and diastolic function between patients with ABS and those with AMI can provide a unique opportunity to assess systolic and diastolic parameters associated with myocardial viability.Strain rate imaging (SRI) is a new tissue Doppler-based method that can quantify regional myocardial deformation.¹ Early experimental and clinical studies have shown that SRI can not only differentiate abnormal from normal myocardial contractility during the initial phase of an infarction but can also demonstrate subsequent recovery of transient ischemia.^1-5 The objectives of this study were to compare 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiographic and SRI features of patients with ABS and AMI and to evaluate systolic and diastolic parameters associated with myocardial viability.     

血浆N一末端脑钠肽前体对射血分数正常心力衰竭患者诊断价值

目的探讨射血分数正常的心力衰竭患者血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体的水平。方法30例射血分数正常的心力衰竭患者（观察组）与30例体检健康者（对照组）均行超声心动图检查,检测并比较2组血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体水平。结果观察组血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体水平明显高于对照组（P〈O．01）;血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体水平与心脏彩超指标舒张早期二尖瓣环运动速度（r=-0．395,P〈0．01）、舒张早期二尖瓣环运动速度／舒张晚期二尖瓣环运动速度（r=-0．292,P〈0．05）、舒张早期二尖瓣血流速度／舒张早期二尖瓣环运动速度（r=-0．529,P〈O．01）呈负相关,与左心房内径（r=0．300,P〈0．05）及左心室后壁厚度（r=0．262,P〈0．05）呈正相关;血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体水平与舒张功能分级、NYHA分级明显相关（P〈O．01）;N-末端脑钠肽前体诊断射血分数正常心力衰竭的AUC为0．702,最佳诊断界值127．58pg／mL,此时灵敏度为63．3％,特异度为83．3％。结论血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体对诊断左室射血分数正常的心力衰竭及评价心力衰竭严重程度有重要价值。