Echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in Chinese endurance athletes.

Most echocardiographic data on the athletic heart syndrome originate from the United States and Western Europe. There are no published data on echocardiographically documented left ventricular hypertrophy in Asian athletes. We investigated the echocardiographic changes which take place with endurance training by studying eight Hong Kong national cyclists. This study confirms that left ventricular hypertrophy and increased left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions are common findings in Chinese endurance athletes as in their Caucasian counterparts. Calculated left ventricular muscle mass exceeded the 95th percentile in seven of eight subjects.     

Impaired left ventricular diastolic function in athletes after utterly strenuous prolonged exercise

Digitized M mode echocardiography was used to evaluate the effect of a competitive 24-h run on the left ventricular diastolic function in 12 well-trained marathon runners who completed 146-227 km during the race. Mitral valve opening was delayed, early diastolic filling was decreased and prolonged, and posterior wall thinning was reduced, particularly among those athletes completing close to 200 km or more. Since the alterations were in part the opposite in those running 160 km or less, only the reductions in the peak rate of dimension increase (P less than 0.05) and posterior wall thinning (P less than 0.01) were significant in the group as a whole. The delay in mitral valve opening (r = 0.76), the decrease in the peak rate of dimension increase (r = -0.68), and the prolongation of the early diastolic filling period (r = 0.60) were correlated with the distance completed. The reductions in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and fractional shortening were not in proportion to the distance run, however (r = 0.23 and 0.46, respectively). Measurements made on six athletes 2-3 days after the race showed reversal of the indices of left ventricular diastolic function. Extremely exhaustive prolonged exercise thus appears to result in a marked reversible impairment in left ventricular relaxation and filling. Since the effect of these abnormalities in cardiac filling during exercise is probably more important due to the shorter diastole, the prevention of hypohydration, which could otherwise further compromise left ventricular filling, becomes crucial.     

Left ventricular function and perfusion in elderly endurance athletes

PURPOSE: To study the extent to which lifelong physical training can affect cardiovascular capacity, left ventricular function, and myocardial perfusion in elderly men. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten healthy male veteran endurance athletes aged 73 +/- 3 yr (mean +/- SD) and a control group of 12 sedentary or moderately physically active healthy subjects aged 75 +/- 2 yr were studied. Echocardiographic examinations at rest and exercise stress tests were performed. Gated blood pool scans and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were recorded at rest and during exercise. Maximal VO2 was 41 +/- 7 mL.kg-1.min-1 in the athletes and 26 +/- 5 mL.kg-1.min-1 in the controls (P < 0.001). Echocardiographic measures of systolic and diastolic function at rest were better in the athletes. The ejection fraction during exercise was also higher in the athletes (P = 0.003). Seven of the 10 athletes, but none of the controls, had pathological myocardial perfusion findings. CONCLUSIONS: By endurance training, a high level of physical capacity can be maintained late in life. The superior cardiovascular function in the veteran athletes, compared with the untrained controls was due to both better systolic and diastolic left ventricular function. Myocardial perfusion defects in athletes should be judged with caution, as this finding is common both in veteran athletes and as previously shown, in young athletes.     

Strain rate and tissue tracking imaging in quantitation of left ventricular systolic function in endurance and strength athletes

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of long-term physical training on left ventricular longitudinal contraction by strain rate analysis and tissue tracking imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population comprised 17 male elite endurance and 15 male elite strength athletes and 12 male control subjects of similar age. Tissue Doppler imaging was recorded in the apical views and used for analysis of the longitudinal systolic myocardial velocity, annular diastolic velocities, strain rate and tissue tracking. Left ventricular mass index was significantly increased in both endurance athletes (209+/-40 g/m(2)) and strength athletes (138+/-38 g/m(2)) compared with normal subjects (96+/-20 g/m(2), P<0.001). Tissue tracking score index and mean strain rate of the 16 segments were significantly increased in strength athletes (7.9+/-1.1 mm and -1.4+/-0.3 s(-1), respectively) compared with endurance athletes (7.5+/-0.9 mm and -1.0+/-0.4 s(-1), P<0.01 for both) and normal subjects (7.4+/-1.0 mm and -1.0+/-0.3 s(-1), P<0.01 for both). CONCLUSION: Despite significant left ventricular hypertrophy and extensive training in elite athletes, we found normal longitudinal left ventricular systolic function, and in strength athletes performing isometric exercise even increased function.     

Left ventricular wall motion during diastolic filling in endurance-trained athletes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) wall motion in highly endurance-trained athletes to evaluate LV diastolic function in physiologically hypertrophied hearts. BACKGROUND: Diastolic filling dynamics have previously been examined in endurance-trained athletes by measuring pulsed-wave mitral inflow velocities during the early and atrial filling phase, indicating an unimpaired LV function. Assessment of LV wall motion may give additional information about the LV diastolic function in endurance-trained athletes. METHODS: Left ventricular mass (LVM) and volume (LVV) were determined by M-mode echocardiography. Peak LV wall motion in the region of the basal septum close to the mitral anulus were measured during the early rapid and atrial filling phase by tissue Doppler in 30 endurance-trained athletes (T) and 16 sedentary control subjects (C) presumed to be healthy. Results: Myocardial LVM and LVV in T (LVM 159.4 +/- 18.0 g.m(-2), LVV 100.4 +/- 13.0 mL.m(-2)) were significantly higher than in C (LVM 105.7 +/- 12.0.m(-2), LVV 70.1 +/- 11.9 mL.m(-2)), and heart rate (HR) was significantly lower (HR C: 69.6 +/- 11.0 bpm, T 50.9 +/- 8.7 bpm),which is consistent with endurance training (P < 0.01 for both). Peak LV wall motion during the early rapid filling phase did not differ significantly between the groups (T: 10.69 +/- 1.46 cm.(s-)1; C: 10.61 +/- 1.52 cm.(s-)1). Peak atrial wall motion was significantly lower in T (4.53 +/- 0.84 cm.s-1) versus C (5.74 +/- 0.75 cm.s(-1)), and the ratio of peak early diastolic to atrial wall motion was consequently higher in athletes (P < 0.01 for both). Conclusion: Regional wall motion at the basal septum near the mitral anulus during the early rapid filling phase is not altered by an increase in LVM or LVV when associated with endurance training.     

Pregnancy in endurance athletes

The purpose of the present study was to examine pregnancy and delivery among Finnish endurance athletes at the national top level. A questionnaire concerning first. pregnancy was sent to 30 Finnish endurance athletes who had been at national top level in cross-country skiing, running, speed-skating or orienteering. Data on labour were collected retrospectively through a questionnaire and from the diaries in the hospital concerned. The next primipara in the diaries formed a member of the control group. Twenty-three athletes (77%) had regular menstrual cycles, seven (23%) had irregularities, and four of them had received hormonal treatment for this. Seven athletes (23%) had experienced spontaneous abortion during the first trimester in previous pregnancy. Sixteen (53%) did not notice any change in their exercise performance, three (10%) subjectively felt themselves to be in a better physical condition, and seven (23%) felt themselves to be in a worse condition than before the pregnancy. Four did not respond on the question. After delivery, 18 athletes continued to compete, the median interval being 8.2 months (range 2–24 months). Two of them (11%) achieved a better condition than before the pregnancy, 11 (61%) reached the same level and five (28%) did not achieve the same performance level. There were no significant differences in labour parameters between the athletes and controls. Endurance training had no harmful side-effects on the pregnancies or deliveries of the athletes. The effect of pregnancy on exercise performance is individual.     

Enlarged left atrial dimension in former endurance athletes: an echocardiographic study

For the purpose of characterizing the left side of the heart by M-mode echocardiography in former endurance athletes, 13 subjects with a mean age of 66 years, all having competed in elite sports up to the age of 35, were studied. As controls, 21 men, with a mean age of 69 years considered to be sedentary and having no history or signs of heart disease, were examined. The two groups did not differ with regard to heart rate, blood pressure, weight, and height. The mean left atrial dimension (LAD) in the former athletes was significantly larger than in the sedentary controls: 43 +/- 6 mm and 38 +/- 3 mm, respectively (P less than 0.05). This was also true when LAD was corrected for body surface area (BSA): 22.1 +/- 3.3 mm/m2 and 20.0 +/- 1.8 mm/m2 (P less than 0.05). However, no significant differences were seen between the athletes and sedentary controls in the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and wall thickness. In conclusion, this study indicates that former endurance athletes have an enlarged left atrium but a normal-sized left ventricle.     

Left ventricular mass, geometry and filling in elite female and male endurance athletes

We compared echocardiographic findings in female (n=30) and male (n=30) endurance athletes to age-matched female (n=15) and male (n=15) sedentary controls. The differences between athletes and controls were similar in both sexes; only left ventricular (LV) mass and septum thickness differed slightly more in men than in women (67% vs 55%, P=0.004, and 36% vs 30%, P=0.03, respectively). LV wall thicknesses were in the normal range in all women, while four (13%) male athletes exceeded 13 mm. In conclusion, the effects of endurance training on echocardiographic findings appear to be quite similar in women and men. However, in female athletes with an abnormally thick left ventricular wall a thorough cardiac evaluation is indicated. This contrasts with male athletes, in whom LV wall thicknesses of over 13 mm are a not uncommon finding.     

QT dispersion in elderly athletes with left ventricular hypertrophy

The purpose of this study was to examine the QT dispersion in elderly endurance athletes with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Sixteen athletes (males, mean age 67.6 +/- 4.5 years) with mild to moderate LV hypertrophy, were compared with 16 age-matched hypertensive patients with similar degree of LV hypertrophy and 16 age-matched healthy sedentary controls. All the participants underwent echocardiogram and 12-lead electrocardiogram. QT dispersion was defined as the difference between maximum and minimum QT intervals in the different leads. QT dispersion was corrected (QTc) for heart rate according to Bazett's formula. The results showed in athletes and hypertensive patients comparable LV mass (258.2 +/- 14.2 vs. 262.4 +/- 16.8 g, ns), which was significantly higher than that of controls (p < 0.001). Trained subjects had QT dispersion (38.6 +/- 10.2 ms) and QTc dispersion (39.4 +/- 11.3 ms) significantly lower than hypertensive patients (QT dispersion: 68.4 +/- 11.4 ms; QTc dispersion: 72.2 +/- 8.4, p < 0.001) and comparable with controls (QT dispersion: 44.3 +/- 8.4 ms; QTc dispersion: 46.2 +/- 6.2 ms, ns). In conclusion, in elderly athletes training-induced myocardial hypertrophy was characterized by a QT dispersion significantly lower than hypertensive myocardial hypertrophy. This could provide a simple and inexpensive screening method for differentiating physiologic from pathologic myocardial hypertrophy in elderly subjects.     

Normalised radionuclide measures of left ventricular diastolic function

Abnormal left ventricular diastolic function is being increasingly recognised in patients with clinical heart failure and normal systolic function. A simple routine radionuclide measure of diastolic function would therefore be useful. To establish this, the relationship of peak diastolic filling rate (normalized for either end diastolic volume, stroke volume, or peak systolic emptying rate), and heart rate, age, and left ventricular ejection fraction was studied in 64 subjects with normal cardiovascular systems using routine gated heart pool studies. The peak filling rate, when normalized to end diastolic volume, correlated significantly with heart rate, age and left ventricular ejection fraction, whereas normalization to stroke volume correlated significantly to heart rate and age but not to left ventricular ejection fraction. Peak filling rate normalized for peak systolic emptying rate correlated with age only. Multiple regression equations were determined for each of the normalized peak filling rates in order to establish normal ranges for each parameter. When using peak filling rate normalized for end diastolic volume or stroke volume, appropriate allowance must be made for heart rate, age and ejection fraction. Peak filling rate normalized to peak ejection rate is a heart rate independent parameter which allows the performance of the patient's ventricle in diastole to be compared with its systolic function. It may be used in patients with normal systolic function to serially follow diastolic function or if age corrected, to screen for diastolic dysfunction.     

Normalised radionuclide measures of left ventricular diastolic function

Abnormal left ventricular diastolic function is being increasingly recognised in patients with clinical heart failure and normal systolic function. A simple routine radionuclide measure of diastolic function would therefore be useful. To establish this, the relationship of peak diastolic filling rate (normalized for either end diastolic volume, stroke volume, or peak systolic emptying rate), and heart rate, age, and left ventricular ejection fraction was studied in 64 subjects with normal cardiovascular systems using routine gated heart pool studies. The peak filling rate, when normalized to end diastolic volume, correlated significantly with heart rate, age and left ventricular ejection fraction, whereas normalization to stroke volume correlated significantly to heart rate and age but not to left ventricular ejection fraction. Peak filling rate normalized for peak systolic emptying rate correlated with age only. Multiple regression equations were determined for each of the normalized peak filling rates in order to establish normal ranges for each parameter. When using peak filling rate normalized for end diastolic volume or stroke volume, appropriate allowance must be made for heart rate, age and ejection fraction. Peak filling rate normalized to peak ejection rate is a heart rate independent parameter which allows the performance of the patient's ventricle in diastole to be compared with its systolic function. It may be used in patients with normal systolic function to serially follow diastolic function or if age corrected, to screen for diastolic dysfunction.     

射血分数保留的心力衰竭左心室舒张功能的影像学评价

射血分数保留的心力衰竭发病率在逐年上升。准确测量左室舒张功能有利于对该病的临床评价。目前可采用超声心动图、心脏MRI(CMRI)及其他多种检查方法评价左室舒张功能,并对舒张功能的病生理机制、舒张功能障碍分级有提示作用。其中CMRI技术的作用日益突出,包括舒张期容积-时间曲线、二尖瓣血流与肺静脉血流成像、心肌标记及其他CMRI技术。     

美托洛尔联合缬沙坦对高血压左室肥厚及左室舒张功能的影响

 目的 观察美托洛尔联合缬沙坦治疗高血压对左室肥厚及左室舒张功能的影响。方法 选择经超声心动图检查有左室肥厚(LVH)的高血压患者180例,随机分为A、B、C 3组,A组给予美托洛尔＋缬沙坦治疗;B组给予缬沙坦治疗;C组给予美托洛尔治疗;疗程均为1年。检查心脏超声并计算左室肌重量和左室肌重量指数(LVMI)、24 h动态血压、心电图等,并进行治疗前后对比及组间对比。结果 所有病例治疗后,血压下降、左室肥厚、左室舒张功能都显示有效(P<0.01),但A组的疗效优于B、C组(P<0.01),特别是A组LVMI明显降低,由(136.8±7.3)g/m²降至(127.7±4.6)g/m²,左室舒张功能提高。结论 美托洛尔联合缬沙坦治疗高血压,可以降低血压、减轻左室肥厚、提高左室舒张功能。
     

左心房容积指数在左心室舒张功能评估中的价值

目的:探讨高血压患者左心房参数与左心室舒张功能降低之间的相关性。方法:选取原发性高血压患者90例作为高血压组,50例健康志愿者作为对照组。传统超声心动图测量左心房内径、左心房容积,根据体表面积计算左心房内径指数和左心房容积指数(LAVI)。通过脉冲多普勒测量舒张早期二尖瓣口最大前向血流速度E峰、舒张晚期前向血流速度A峰及减速时间,得到E/A。利用组织多普勒测量室间隔侧二尖瓣环运动速度Em,计算E/Em,并获取左心室壁18节段舒张期早期和晚期心肌应变和应变率,记录舒张功能降低的心室节段总数。结果:(1)与对照组比较,高血压组左心房内径及容积显著增大(均P0.05),且舒张功能降低心室节段数明显多于对照组(P0.05)。(2)根据LAVI将高血压患者分为3组:A组(正常组)、B组(轻度扩大组)和C组(中重度扩大组)。与A组比较,B组和C组舒张功能降低心室节段总数、E/Em均增加(均P0.05);B、C组Em均降低(均P0.05)。(3)LAVI与舒张功能降低心室节段总数及E/Em呈正相关(r=0.89,0.92;均P0.01),与Em呈负相关(r=-0.86)。结论:左心房重构与左心室舒张功能密切相关,LAVI与E/Em呈良好的相关性,LAVI可评估左心室舒张功能。     

Transient cardiac left ventricular diastolic dysfunction following strenuous exercise

Abstract The long term clinical significance of exercise-induced cardiac fatigue has not been clearly addressed. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of repetitive competitive high altitude running on left ventricular performance. Eleven athletes were studied before and after two high altitude races in two consecutive years. On both occasions 12-lead elettrocardiography (ECG) as well as Doppler echocardiography were performed 24 hours before, shortly after (within 30 min) and 24 hours after the end of the race. Measurements included ejection fraction, early (E) and late (A) transmitral inflow velocities, their ratio (E/A) and percent atrial contribution (AC). Similar studies were performed in 11 age- and sex-matched control subjects at baseline and following a maximal exercise test. Ejection fraction remained stable in both. Conversely, Doppler E/A ratio significantly decreased in atletes early after the race from 1.9±0.1 to 1.3±0.1 (p<0.05) for the first race and from 1.7±0.1 to 1.4±0.1 (p<0.05) for the second race. The decrease was mainly due to a reduction in E (p<0.05), since A was not modified. AC increased from 20%±3% to 28%±5% (p<0.05) and from 21%±3% to 26%±6% (p<0.05), respectively. All parameters returned to baseline at a 24-hour control. Compared to controls, all athletes had significantly higher resting E and A velocities and lower E/A ratio and AC to ventricular filling shortly after exercising. All parameters returned to baseline at the 24-hour controls. These findings are consistent with previous studies reporting transient cardiac fatigue following strenuous exercise. However, the functional effects of these changes do not seem to interfere with cardiac function and athletic performance in both the short term and medium-long term.     

彩色M型多普勒评价室壁肥厚患者左室舒张功能的临床研究

目的：探讨应用M型彩色多普勒评价室壁肥厚患者左室舒张功能的临床价值。方法：研究32例左室肥厚患者，包括肥厚型心脏病（HCM）10例、高血压性心脏病（HHD）Ⅱ期左室肥厚22例，正常对照（NC）20例，分别测量左室舒张早期血流播散速度（Vp）、E峰与Vp的比值（E／Vp）等指标。结果：室壁肥厚患者不论E／A〉1，还是E／A〈1，其Vp和E／Vp与对照值相比，均有显著性差异（P〈0．01）。结论：彩色M型多普勒无“假性正常化”现象，是评价左室舒张功能的可靠指标。     

彩色多普勒超声对高血压左心室向心性与离心性心肌肥厚患者左心室舒张功能的评价

目的:探讨应用多普勒超声评估高血压左心室向心性与离心性肥厚患者左心室舒张功能障碍的差异,为评价左心室舒张功能受损程度提供依据。方法:选择原发性高血压患者246例,根据左心室构型分为正常构型组、向心性重构组、离心性肥厚组、向心性肥厚组。左心室舒张功能的评估应用脉冲多普勒测量二尖瓣舒张早期血流峰值(E)及舒张晚期血流峰值(A),计算E/A值;组织多普勒测量二尖瓣环舒张早期运动峰值速度(Em),计算E/Em值。结果:与正常构型组相比,室间隔厚度及左心室厚壁厚度在向心性重构组、离心性肥厚组及向心性肥厚组均显著增加(均P0.01)。与正常构型组相比,左心室舒张末期内径在向心性重构组明显减小,在离心性肥厚组明显增大(均P0.01)。左心房内径在离心性肥厚组和向心性肥厚组比正常构型组和向心性重构组显著增加(P0.01),在离心性肥厚组和向心性肥厚组之间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),向心性重构组比正常构型组减小(P0.05)。与正常构型组比较,反映左心室舒张功能的参数E/A和Em在离心性肥厚组和向心性肥厚组均显著降低(均P0.01);E/Em在向心性肥厚组比离心性肥厚组显著增高(P0.01)。结论:在高血压左心室肥厚患者中,向心性肥厚患者的左心室舒张功能障碍比离心性肥厚患者严重。