Reference Values of Tissue Doppler Imaging and Pulsed Doppler Echocardiography for Analysis of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Healthy Adults

To determine reference values for tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and pulsed Doppler echocardiography for left ventricular diastolic function analysis in a healthy Brazilian adult population. Observations were based on a randomly selected healthy population from the city of Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Healthy volunteers (n = 275, 61.7% women) without prior histories of cardiovascular disease underwent transthoracic echocardiography. We analyzed 175 individuals by TDI and evaluated mitral annulus E′‐ and A′‐waves from the septum (S) and lateral wall (L) to calculate E′/A′ ratios. Using pulsed Doppler echocardiography, we further analyzed the mitral E‐ and A‐waves, E/A ratios, isovolumetric relaxation times (IRTs), and deceleration times (DTs) of 275 individuals. Pulsed Doppler mitral inflow mean values for men were as follows: E‐wave: 71 ± 16 cm/sec, A‐wave: 68 ± 15 cm/sec, IRT: 74.8 ± 9.2 ms, DT: 206 ± 32.3 ms, E/A ratio: 1.1 ± 0.3. Pulsed Doppler mitral inflow mean values for women were as follows: E‐wave: 76 ± 17, A‐wave: 69 ± 14 cm/sec, IRT: 71.2 ± 10.5 ms, DT: 197 ± 33.3 ms, E/A ratio: 1.1 ± 0.3. IRT and DT values were higher in men than in women (P = 0.04 and P = 0.007, respectively). TDI values in men were as follows: E′S: 11± 3 cm/sec, A′S: 13 ± 2 cm/sec, E′S/A′S: 0.89 ± 0.2, E′L: 14 ± 3 cm/sec, A′L: 14 ± 2 cm/sec, E′L/A′L: 1.1± 0.4. E‐wave/ E′S ratio: 6.9 ± 2.2; E‐wave / E′L ratio: 4.9 ± 1.7. In this study, we determined pulsed Doppler and TDI derived parameters for left ventricular diastolic function in a large sample of healthy Brazilian adults. (Echocardiography 2010;27:777‐782)     

多普勒组织声像图与解剖M型超声心动图的对比研究

目的　探讨多普勒组织声像图 (DTI)与解剖M型超声心动图对冠心病病变段诊断的异同。方法　本文对2 8例经冠脉造影 (CAG)确诊的冠心病用频谱勒组织声像图(DT PW )测定其室壁运动频谱 ,以收缩波S≤ 5cm/s为病变节段 ,用解剖M型法测定收缩期室壁增厚率 ,以 <30 %为病变节段 ,两种方法均和CAG证实的病变节段对比。结果　DTI法诊断冠心病病变段敏感性为 74 6 0 % ,解剖M型法39 6 8% ,病变段收缩波 (S)低平 ,时相延迟 ,方向相反或频谱紊乱 ,后两种情况多见于梗死节段 ;室壁增厚率降低 ,甚至为负数。结论　DTI法对冠心病的诊断较解剖M型法敏感 ,可成为诊断冠心病的一种辅助方法。     

Assessment of Coronary Artery Fistula by Color Doppler Echocardiography

Two patients with coronary artery fistula (CAF) were studied by color Doppler echocardiography, left coronary artery-right ventricle fistula in a child and right coronary artery-left ventricle fistula in an adult. Diagnosis was made by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and one adult by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), respectively. The proximal dilated coronary artery, the course, and the drainage sites were demonstrated with color Doppler echocardiography in both patients.     

Novel Application of Tissue Doppler Imaging

Tissue Doppler imaging was used with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography to determine its clinical usefulness beyond visualization of ventricular wall motion. Thirteen novel applications were found: acoustically difficult transthoracic studies, thrombus, mitral chordal motion, shunt detection using saline contrast, spontaneous echo contrast, intra-aortic balloon pump position and function, endocarditis (prosthetic and native), valve strands (prosthetic and native), mobile aortic atheroma, prosthetic valve motion, aortic valve motion in the presence of a calcified aortic annulus, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, and cardiac tumors. Tissue Doppler imaging directly affected the ability to make difficult diagnostic decisions with increased confidence and reduced the need for additional studies.     

Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography in Assessment of Stable Coronary Artery Disease at Intermediate Dobutamine-Induced Stress Level

Background: Myocardial contrast stress echocardiography (stress MCE) is a novel method for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD). Few studies have compared the diagnosis of ischemia by stress MCE to angiographic CAD. Methods: Dobutamine stress MCE and SonoVue contrast infusion were performed before an elective percutaneous coronary intervention in 37 patients (8 women) aged 45–75 years with symptomatic CAD and at least one significant coronary artery stenosis measured by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). The total and regional perfusion and wall motion (WM) were scored as normal or abnormal and attributed to the three main epicardial coronary arteries using a 17-segment left ventricular model. Results: An intermediate stress level was obtained in 29 (78%) patients, and 2 (5%) patients obtained peak stress. A perfusion defect was detected in 92% and WM abnormality in 57% of the patients at peak stress (P < 0.01). By perfusion, 70% of stenoses were both detected and correctly anatomically located, compared to 42% by WM (P < 0.01). All 21 patients with multivessel disease and/or proximal left anterior descending (LAD) stenosis measured by QCA were identified by stress-induced perfusion defects, while only 11 of them were identified by WM abnormalities (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Perfusion scoring is superior to WM scoring during stress MCE for diagnosing significant CAD in patients obtaining intermediate stress level, in particular, when multivessel disease or proximal LAD stenosis is present.     

Echocardiographic Evaluation of External Iliac Artery Doppler Waveform in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Visual interpretation of the Doppler waveform in the common femoral or distal external iliac artery (EIA) was reported to be useful in screening for proximal peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) in patients with lower limb ischemia. Commonly patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for echocardiography have coexistent arterial pathology. Therefore, we decided to study whether echocardiographic evaluation of the distal EIA flow can be useful for detection of PAOD in patients with CAD. We studied 150 consecutive patients (pts) with CAD referred for echocardiography. At the end of an echocardiographic examination, evaluation of the flow in the distal EIA with an echocardiographic probe was performed. The Doppler waveform was classified as normal—with early diastolic flow reversal or abnormal–without early diastolic flow reversal. Echocardiographic findings were compared in a blinded fashion with the results of the ankle brachial index measurements (ABI). Based on the ABI ≤ 0.9, peripheral artery disease was diagnosed in 54 pts (36%) and abnormal external iliac Doppler waveform was found in 27 pts (18%). Sensitivity of abnormal external iliac Doppler waveform in predicting PAOD was 48%, specificity 99%, positive predictive value (PPV) 96%, and negative predictive value 77%. Peripheral arterial occlusive disease is common in patients with CAD referred for echocardiographic study. Echocardiographic assessment of distal EIA Doppler waveform has low sensitivity, but high specificity and high PPV in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial occlusive disease.     

Quantitative Myocardial Contrast Supine Bicycle Stress Echocardiography for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease

Background: If compared with two‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE), quantitative myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) improves detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) during pharmacological stress, but there is paucity of data regarding quantitative MCE performed during supine bicycle stress. Objectives: To determine the feasibility and accuracy of quantitative MCE and assess its incremental benefit over 2DE for detection of CAD during supine bicycle stress. Methods: Sixty‐one consecutive patients (47 males, 14 females, mean age 57 ± 12 years) with suspected CAD, who were scheduled for coronary angiography, underwent 2DE and MCE supine bicycle stress. The diagnosis of obstructive CAD (≥50% stenosis) was based on inducible wall‐motion and myocardial perfusion abnormalities. For quantitative myocardial perfusion analysis, A, β, and Aβ reserve were derived from myocardial contrast replenishment curves. Results: Quantitative coronary angiography revealed ≥50% stenosis in 41, ≥70% stenosis in 18, single vessel disease in 24, and multivessel disease in 17 patients. If compared with 2DE, quantitative MCE was more sensitive (71% vs. 93%; P < 0.05) and more accurate (74% vs. 89%; P < 0.05) to detect obstructive CAD. The sensitivity of 2DE and quantitative MCE was 61% and 91% (P < 0.05) in 50–69% stenosis, and 63% and 92% (P < 0.05) in single vessel disease. No difference in sensitivity between 2DE and quantitative MCE was found in subjects with ≥70% stenosis (83% vs. 94%, P = NS) and multivessel disease (82% vs. 94%, P = NS). Conclusions: Quantitative MCE enhances sensitivity and accuracy of supine bicycle stress 2DE for detection of obstructive CAD, and this incremental benefit is especially present in less severe disease.     

Complementary Roles of Transthoracic Two-Dimensional Color Doppler Imaging and Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography in Diagnosis of Endomyocardial Fibrosis

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a rare progressive restrictive cardiomyopathy of unknown etiology that mainly presents with heart failure. The presence of a small ventricle with obliteration of the apex and a large atrium are two-dimensional echocardiographic findings that are highly suggestive of EMF. Cardiac magnetic resonance with delayed enhancement allows detection of subendocardial fibrosis with good histopathological correlation, providing a noninvasive modality for diagnosing EMF. We herein report a case of EMF in which the complementary role of two-dimensional color Doppler imaging and myocardial contrast echocardiography proved to be useful in the diagnosis of this clinical entity, which was later confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance, surgery, and histopathology.     

多巴酚丁胺负荷超声与平板运动心电图诊断冠心病的临床研究

目的评价多巴酚丁胺超声心动图负荷试验(DSE)和平板运动心电图(TET)负荷试验诊断冠心病的价值。方法 46例可疑冠心病患者,行冠状动脉造影(CAG)、DSE及TET检查,以CAG作为诊断冠心病的金标准,比较多巴酚丁胺超声心动图负荷试验及平板运动心电图负荷试验诊断冠心病的准确性。结果多巴酚丁胺超声心动图负荷试验和平板运动心电图负荷试验对冠心病诊断的敏感性是86.2%vs 62.1%(P<0.05),特异性是88.2%vs 76.5%(P>0.05),准确性是87.0%vs 67.4%(P<0.05)。结论多巴酚丁胺超声心动图负荷试验对诊断冠心病有较高的敏感性、特异性和准确性。     

冠状动脉病变:影像学与生理学评价

近年来,冠心病仍然是世界范围内威胁人类健康的主要死因,冠状动脉造影长久以来一直被认为是评价冠状动脉病变的影像学"金标准"。然而对于一些复杂病变如分叉病变、易损斑块及临界病变等,应用冠状动脉造影评价冠状动脉病变略显局限。因此,为了满足临床需要,新的影像学及生理学评价技术应运而生,目前用于评价冠状动脉病变的有创性或无创性技术有:血管内超声、光学相干断层成像、血流储备分数等。他们各有千秋,并在心血管领域发挥重要的作用。     

Imaging of Right Coronary Artery Ostial Stents by Transesophageal Echocardiography

A 55-year-old female with a history of rheumatic mitral stenosis and coronary artery disease underwent a transesophageal echocardiographic examination to assess the feasibility of performing balloon mitral valvuloplasty. During the examination, an unusual echodensity was incidentally discovered in the right sinus of Valsalva which represented a coronary artery stent. Transesophageal imaging of ostial stents have rarely been described in the literature. Their characteristic echocardiographic findings are discussed.     

Diastolic Function Study with Conventional and Pulsed Tissue Doppler Echocardiography Imaging in Acromegalic Patients

Acromegaly is associated with myocardial hypertrophy and it can progress to diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Purpose: To evaluate diastolic function in acromegalic patients through conventional echocardiography (CD) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Methods: Seventeen acromegalic patients were submitted to CD and TDI, and early (E) and atriogenic (A) transmitral flow were evaluated in mitral, septal, and tricuspid regions. Results: In comparison with controls the means of conventional (1.06), septal (1.01), and tricuspid (0.98) E/A ratio were significantly lower in acromegalic patients. E/A ratio <1.0 was demonstrated in 41% and 49% of acromegalics by DC and TDI, respectively, with no statistical difference among the two methods. An inverse linear correlation was shown between mitral E/A ratio and acromegalic age (r =−0.7). Conclusion: In this study, DC and TDI were equally effective in demonstrating diastolic dysfunction, a common finding in acromegalic patients.     

Detection of Severe Stenosis and Total Occlusion in the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery with Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography in the Emergency Room

Background: The noninvasive measurement of coronary flow velocity in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) has recently been realized by using the transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE). A couple of investigations demonstrated that the diastolic-to-systolic peak velocity ratio (DSVR) by TTDE is a simple and noninvasive method for the detection of severe stenosis in the elective settings. However, the usefulness of DSVR by TTDE in the emergency settings has not been evaluated. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical feasibility to document the LAD flow by TTDE in emergency patients who complained of chest pain. Methods: We studied 49 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome who were going to undergo emergency coronary angiography (CAG) for the anatomical diagnosis and the facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Prior to CAG, we recorded the LAD flow by TTDE and measured the diastolic peak velocity (DVp), systolic peak velocity (SVp), and their ratio, DSVR (DVp/SVp) of LAD flow. Results: By CAG, the culprit lesions actually resided in the proximal LAD in 36 patients. Among the 36 patients, we detected the Doppler LAD flow in 29. Five out of 7 patients who were unable to detect the LAD flow revealed total occlusions by CAG. DSVR of the LAD is significantly lower in 17 patients who showed severe stenoses ( > 90%) than those in the rest of 12 patients who did not show such critical stenoses (1.44 ± 0.16 vs 2.10 ± 0.26, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: In the emergency settings, a noninvasive assessment of the LAD flow by TTDE accurately estimates the critical stenotic lesions of the LAD.     

Analysis of Left Ventricular Regional Dyssynchrony: Comparison between Real Time 3D Echocardiography and Tissue Doppler Imaging

Background: There is a paucity of information concerning left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony assessment by real time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (RT3DE) versus tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Aims: To compare RT3DE and TDI LV dyssynchrony assessment. Methods: A prospective study of 92 individuals (56 men, age 47 ± 10 years), 32 with dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP), and 60 healthy individuals. By RT3DE, we measured the LV% dyssynchrony index (DI) of 6, 12, and 16 segments (SDI). By pulsed-wave TDI, we measured the QS electromechanical interval in the basal segments of the mitral valve annulus of the septum, the lateral, anterior and inferior walls, and the TDI% DI. Results: In the normal group, the 3D DI was 1.1 ± 0.8%, 1.4 ± 1.3%, 1.8 ± 1.7%, for 6 segments, 12 segments, and SDI, respectively. The correlation coefficient (Pearson's r) for the TDI DI and SDI was r = 0.2381 (P = 0.0470). In CMP group, the 3D DI was 4.6 ± 5.4%, 7.9 ± 7.1%, 11.1 ± 7.1%, for 6 segments, 12 segments, and SDI, respectively. The correlation coefficient for TDI DI and SDI was r = 0.7838 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: We observed a good correlation between RT3DE and tissue Doppler LV dyssynchrony assessment in patients with advanced heart failure.     

Assessment of Atrial Contribution to Left Ventricular Filling during Cold Pressor Test by M-mode Echocardiography in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

ABSTRACT. To determine whether temporarily increased afterload causes changes in left ventricular (LV) diastolic properties, we examined 19 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 14 healthy subjects by M-mode echocardiography during immersion of the left hand in ice water. The M-mode echocardiograms were digitized to assess the percentage of atrial contribution (%AC) to LV filling as a marker of diastolic properties. Six patients and 5 controls had to be excluded owing to inability to clearly define the endocardium in the left ventricle throughout the entire heart cycle. In the control situation, the %AC did not differ significantly between the two groups. During the cold pressor test, the mean %AC at peak systolic and peak diastolic pressures was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Thus, by using M-mode echocardiography during the cold pressor test it is possible to document an increased atrial contribution to LV filling in patients with CAD. It is suggested that the mechanism is increased myocardial stiffness evoked by ischaemia with a resultant increased role of atrial contraction.     

Clinical Assessment and Rest and Stress Echocardiography for Prediction of Long-Term Prognosis in African Americans with Known or Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Background: There is limited information on noninvasive risk stratification of African Americans, a high-risk group for cardiovascular events. We investigated the value of clinical assessment and echocardiography for the prediction of a long-term prognosis in African Americans. Methods: Dobutamine echocardiography was performed in 324 African Americans. Two-dimensional measurements were performed at rest, and rest and stress wall motion was assessed. A retrospective follow-up was conducted for cardiac events: myocardial infarction (MI) or cardiac death (CD). Results: The mean age was 59 ± 12 years, and 83% of patients had hypertension. The follow-up was obtained in 318 (98%) patients for a mean of 5.3 years. The events occurred in 107 (33%) subjects. The independent predictors of events were history of MI (P = 0.001, risk ratio [RR] 2.04), ischemia (P = 0.007, RR 1.97), fractional shortening (P = 0.033, RR 0.08), and left atrial (LA) dimension (P = 0.034, RR 1.39). An LA size of 3.6 cm and a fractional shortening of 0.30 were the best cutoff values for the prediction of events. Prior MI, ischemia, LA size >3.6 cm, and fractional shortening <0.30 were each considered independent risk predictors for events. The event rates were 13%, 21%, 38%, 59%, and 57% in patients with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 risk predictors, respectively. Event-free survival progressively worsened with an increasing number of predictors: 0 or 1 versus 2 predictors, P < 0.001; 2 versus 3 or 4 predictors, P = 0.003. Conclusion: The long-term prognosis of African Americans can be accurately predicted by clinical assessment combined with rest and stress echocardiography.     

Pulsed Tissue Doppler Imaging to Assess Myocardial Viability by Quantification of Regional Myocardial Functional Reserve

Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is used widely to evaluate myocardial viability, but is limited by the subjective nature of test interpretation. Assessment of systolic function by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) during dobutamine stimulation may allow a more objective evaluation of myocardial functional reserve and, thus, myocardial viability. In 30 patients (58 +/- 9 years) with prior myocardial infarction, pulsed TDI with low dose dobutamine stress (10 microg/kg/min) was performed to assess myocardial viability. Qualitative assessment of two-dimensional (2-D) DSE and positron emission tomography (PET) were used for comparison. Peak systolic myocardial velocity was measured for each left ventricular segment (16 segments) at baseline and low dose dobutamine stress using pulsed TDI. The absolute and relative increases of peak systolic velocity from rest to low dose dobutamine stress were calculated. Three hundred sixty-four segments with adequate pulsed TDI tracing were divided according to either 2-D DSE or PET findings into normal, viable (mismatch), and nonviable (match) segments. The increase of peak systolic myocardial velocity from baseline to low dose dobutamine was significantly different between segments defined as normal, viable, and nonviable by 2-D DSE (2.71 +/- 1.91 cm/sec, 1.86 +/- 2.15 cm/sec, and 0.99 +/- 1.16 cm/sec, respectively; P < 0.001). The increase of peak systolic myocardial velocity from rest to low dose dobutamine for normal, mismatch, and match segments defined by PET was 2.72 +/- 1.96, 1.01 +/- 0.96 and 0.80 +/- 1.07 cm/sec, respectively (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the increase of peak systolic myocardial velocity during low dose dobutamine stimulation determined by pulsed TDI distinguishes between different myocardial viability states. It complements the standard interpretation of stress echocardiograms.     

Comparison of LVEF Obtained with Single-Plane RAO Ventriculography and Echocardiography in Patients with and without Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determined by invasive ventriculography (routine cardiac cath; LV-gram) was compared with that determined by echocardiography in 100 patients scheduled for angiography (86% had LV-gram and 2DE during same hospital admission). Seventy percent of patients had at least single-vessel obstructive coronary artery disease, defined as more than 50% stenosis. By all estimates, the LVEF was higher in patients without coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to patients with CAD. There was an excellent correlation between the LVEF by cath and echo, but this correlation was noticeably less strong in patients with CAD, especially with involvement of the left circumflex artery.     

Tissue Doppler Echocardiography: Historical Perspective and Technological Considerations

Tissue Doppler echocardiography is a new ultrasonographic approach to the quantification of myocardial function. It is based on the interrogation of the high amplitude, low velocity reflected ultrasound signals from the myocardium. Velocity data can be obtained during pulsed- or color Doppler methodologies. Color Doppler data can be processed to determine regional acceleration, strain, strain rate, delay, and amplitude of motion. Color myocardial Doppler frame rates of up to 200 s⁻¹ can be implemented by parallel processing of the data, thus overcoming the early temporal resolution limitations of the technique.