Reduced left ventricular relaxation velocity after acute myocardial infarction

Diastolic left ventricular function is usually described using Doppler recording of the early to atrial (E/A) ratio. However, because of pseudonormalization in patients with moderately impaired diastolic function, the E/A ratio does not allow a meaningful comparison between a group of patients with varying degrees of dysfunction, e.g. after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and a group of healthy control subjects. In this study, diastolic function was assessed using the E/A ratio, deceleration time of early mitral inflow and maximal longitudinal relaxation velocity. The relaxation velocity was measured using echocardiographic M-mode recording of mitral annulus motion. Mitral annulus motion was recorded in four- and two-chamber views. Relaxation velocities were measured in the septal, lateral, anterior and posterior parts of the mitral annulus and the mean value (RV_m) was calculated. Twenty-two consecutive patients were investigated 3–21 days after first transmural AMI. Twenty-two healthy subjects of similar age served as a control group. The group of patients with AMI had an RV_m of 40·9 ± 15·4 mm s^?1 compared with 68·5 ± 12·4 mm s^?1 in the control group (P<0·0001). In contrast, the E/A ratio, deceleration time and heart rate did not differ significantly between the two groups. The results suggest that maximal longitudinal relaxation velocity is a simple and appropriate measure of diastolic function in patients with transmural AMI.     

Effects of first myocardial infarction on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function with the use of mitral annular velocity determined by pulsed wave doppler tissue imaging.

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of a first myocardial infarction (MI) on the systolic and diastolic velocity profiles of the mitral annulus determined by pulsed wave Doppler tissue imaging and thereby evaluate left ventricular (LV) function after MI. Seventy-eight patients with a first MI were examined before discharge. Peak systolic, peak early diastolic, and peak late diastolic velocities were recorded at 4 different sites on the mitral annulus corresponding to the septum, anterior, lateral, and inferior sites of the left ventricle. In addition, the amplitude of mitral annular motion at the 4 above LV sites, the ejection fraction, and conventional Doppler diastolic parameters were recorded. Nineteen age-matched healthy subjects served as controls. Compared with healthy subjects, the MI patients had a significantly reduced peak systolic velocity at the mitral annulus, especially at the infarction sites. A relatively good linear correlation was found between the ejection fraction and the mean systolic velocity from the 4 LV sites (r = 0.74, P <.001). The correlation was also good when the mean peak systolic mitral annular velocity was tested against the magnitude of the mean mitral annular motion (r = 0.77, P <.001). When the patients were divided into 2 different groups with respect to an ejection fraction > or =0.50 or <0.50, a cutoff point of mean systolic mitral annular velocity of > or =7.5 cm/s had a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 88% in predicting a preserved global LV systolic function. Similar to systolic velocities, the early diastolic velocity was also reduced, especially at the infarction sites. The peak mitral annular early diastolic velocity correlated well with both LV ejection fraction (r =.66, P <.001) and mean systolic mitral annular motion (r = 0.68, P <.001). However, no correlation existed between the early diastolic velocity and conventional diastolic Doppler parameters. The reduced peak systolic mitral annular velocity seems to be an expression of regionally reduced systolic function. The peak early diastolic velocity is also reduced, especially at the infarction sites, and reflects regional diastolic dysfunction. Thus, quantification of myocardial velocity by Doppler tissue imaging opens up a new possibility of assessing LV function along its long axis.     

Cardiac performance during exercise in patients with Fabry's disease

Background Fatigability and dyspnoea on effort are present in many patients with Fabry's disease. We assessed the determinants of cardiac performance during exercise in patients with Fabry's disease and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction at rest. Materials and methods Sixteen patients with Fabry's disease and 16 control subjects underwent radionuclide angiography at rest and during exercise, tissue Doppler echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging at rest. Results The exercise‐induced change in stroke volume was +25 ± 14% in controls and +5·8 ± 19% in patients with Fabry's disease (P < 0·001). In 10 patients (group 1), the stroke volume increased (+19 ± 10%), and in 6 patients (group 2) it decreased (–16 ± 9%) with exercise. Patients of group 2 were older, had worse renal function, higher left ventricular mass and impaired diastolic function compared to group 1. The abnormal stroke volume response to exercise in group 2 was associated with a decrease in end‐diastolic volume (P < 0·001) and a lack of reduction of end‐systolic volume (P < 0·01) compared with both controls and group 1. The ratio of peak early‐diastolic velocity from mitral filling to peak early‐diastolic mitral annulus velocity was the only independent predictor of exercise‐induced change in stroke volume (B –0·44; SE 0·119; β–0·70; P < 0·005). Conclusions The majority of patients with Fabry's disease were able to augment stroke volume during exercise by increasing end‐diastolic volume, whereas patients with more advanced cardiac involvement may experience the inability to increase cardiac output by the Frank Starling mechanism.     

Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function from mitral annulus motion,a comparison with pulsed Doppler measurements in patients with heart failure

Summary. Mitral and pulmonary venous flow velocity recordings are often used for the assessment of left ventricular diastolic function. These curves are, however, also influenced by other factors. To investigate whether mitral annulus motion carries additional information in this context, mitral annulus motion was compared to Doppler registrations of mitral and pulmonary flow velocities in 38 patients with heart failure (NYHA II—III) after myocardial infarction. Patients with an increased atrial contribution to mitral annulus motion (> 57%, n= 12) had a higher mitral late-to-early flow velocity ratio (A/E) and pulmonary systolic to diastolic filling ratio (<0–01). Patients with atrial displacement above average for the group (? 5.1 mm, n= 19) had a higher mitral AVE ratio and pulmonary systolic to diastolic filling ratio than patients with a lower than average atrial component (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between a/T ratio and A/E ratio (r= 0.61, P < 0.001) and between pulmonary flow and transmitral flow (= 0.76, P < 0.001). We conclude that an increased atrial displacement of the mitral annulus is a frequent finding in patients with signs of left ventricular relaxation abnormality. There is a significant correlation between a/T ratio and A/E ratio but the information contained in the two indices are not identical.     

多普勒组织成像评价高血压病患者左室舒张功能

目的　探讨应用多普勒组织成像 (DTI)技术检测二尖瓣环运动速度评估原发性高血压病左室舒张功能的应用价值。方法　应用DTI技术 ,对 5 6例原发性高血压病患者和 5 0例正常对照者二尖瓣环运动速度进行测定 ,并与常规多普勒超声心动图检查结果对照分析。结果　与正常组相比 ,高血压病患者收缩期DTI速度峰值 (S)差异无显著性意义 ,舒张早期DTI速度峰值 (Ve)显著减低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,舒张晚期DTI速度峰值 (Va)无显著变化 ,舒张早期与舒张晚期DTI速度峰值的比值 (Ve Va)显著减低 (P <0 .0 5 )。Ve Va值与二尖瓣血流频谱E A值之间存在高度相关性。结论　DTI技术检测二尖瓣环舒张期运动速度参数可用于无创评价原发性高血压病左室舒张功能。     

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。     

The relationship between tissue Doppler imaging and seric NTproBNP levels in sinus rhythm patients: a prospective study

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) correlates with left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. The ratio between early diastolic transmitral velocity and early mitral annular diastolic velocity (E/Ea) reflects LV filling pressure in a variety of cardiac diseases. However this relationship was not validated in some categories of patients. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between tissue Doppler velocities of the mitral annulus and NTproBNP levels in sinus rhythm patients. Methods Echocardiography was performed in 111 consecutive patients simultaneously with NTproBNP measurement. E/Ea and E/(Ea × Sa) were calculated (Sa is the maximal systolic velocity of mitral annulus); the average of the velocities of septal and lateral mitral annulus was used. Results Simple regression analysis demonstrated a significant linear correlation between E/(Ea × Sa) and NTproBNP (r = 0.71, P < 0.0001), superior to E/Ea correlation (r = 0.58, P < 0.0001). Significant but weaker correlations were found between NTproBNP and Sa, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, Ea, mitral E/A (early/late diastolic transmitral velocity), E wave, mitral E deceleration time and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). The optimal E/(Ea × Sa) cut-off for prediction of NTproBNP levels > 900 pg/ml was 1.5 (sensitivity = 81%, specificity = 70%). Among analyzed parameters, E/(Ea × Sa) was best correlated with NTproBNP levels in patients with LVEF ≥ 50% (r = 0.80, P < 0.0001), with depressed LVEF (<50%) (r = 0.66, P < 0.0001), with regional wall motion abnormalities (r = 0.75, P < 0.0001), and with E/Ea 8 to 15 (r = 0.58, P < 0.0001). Conclusions E/(Ea × Sa) strongly correlates with NTproBNP, regardless of LVEF, and can be a simple and accurate echocardiographic index in patients in sinus rhythm, particularly in those with regional wall motion abnormalities or intermediate E/Ea.     

Right ventricular long-axis function in relation to left ventricular systolic function

A decrease in left ventricular (LV) systolic function is accompanied by a decrease in maximal relaxation velocity in LV long‐axis direction, but is it also accompanied by a decrease in right ventricular (RV) long‐axis function? To study this 35 consecutive patients were examined by echocardiography. Ejection fraction (LVEF) and mitral annulus motion (MAM) were used as indices of LV systolic function and tricuspid annulus motion (TAM), that is the systolic shortening in RV long‐axis direction, was used as an index of RV systolic long‐axis function. In the same way the maximal relaxation velocity in LV long‐axis direction, that is the maximal diastolic velocity of MAM (MDV MAM), has been suggested as an index of LV diastolic function the maximal diastolic velocity of TAM (MDV TAM) can be supposed to be an index of RV diastolic function measuring the maximal relaxation velocity in the RV long‐axis direction. A significant positive correlation was found between MDV TAM and MAM (r = 0·64, P<0001) and LVEF (r = 0·54, P = 0·001) and between TAM and the two studied indices of LV systolic function, with the highest correlation to MAM (r = 0·68, P<0·001) and the lowest to LVEF (r = 0·57, P<0·001). Thus, a decrease in LV systolic function is accompanied by a decrease in both systolic and diastolic RV long‐axis function, findings that probably are due to the close anatomical connection between the ventricles and to changes that occur in afterload of the RV secondary to LV systolic dysfunction.     

Association of carotid arterial distensibility with Doppler indices of left ventricular filling in 50-year-old subjects

Doppler indices of left ventricular diastolic filling are associated with various cardiac and extracardiac factors. Afterload is one of the extracardiac factors influencing left ventricular diastolic filling. The distensibility of the great arteries is one of the components of afterload. In this study, the relation between Doppler indices of left ventricular filling and the distensibility of the common carotid arteries was investigated. We studied 237 subjects at 50 years of age with Doppler echocardiography and ultrasound examination of the common carotid arteries. The following Doppler indices of left ventricular filling were studied: peak early diastolic velocity E-wave, peak atrial diastolic velocity A-wave and early to atrial peak velocity ratio, E/A. Carotid arterial characteristics were: distensibility coefficient, carotid arterial diameter change in systole and fractional change in the carotid arterial diameter. The relation between Doppler indices of left ventricular filling and carotid arterial characteristics was assessed by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. There was a significant univariate, positive association between E/A ratio and carotid arterial distensibility (r = 0·27, P<0·001), carotid arterial systolic diameter change (r = 0·19, P<0·005) and fractional change of the carotid arterial diameter (r = 0·20, P<0·005). In multivariate analysis, E/A ratio was independently associated with carotid arterial distensibility (P<0·005), after adjusting for heart rate, body mass index and gender. Decreased carotid arterial distensibility was associated with a reduction in E/A ratio, suggesting that arterial distensibility may have an effect on left ventricular diastolic filling or that changes in the arterial elastic properties are associated with corresponding structural changes in the left ventricle.     

Determination of left ventricular filling pressure by new echocardiographic methods in patients with coronary artery disease

Aim The present study was designed to determine the reliability of the analysis of the time difference between onset of mitral inflow and onset of early diastolic mitral annulus velocity and mean systolic strain index, and comparing them with E/E′ in the detection of increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods Eighty patients (mean age: 57.2 ± 11.5 years) referred for cardiac catheterization were studied. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to LVEDP (group 1: LVEDP > 20 mmHg, n = 39 patients; group 2: LVEDP ≤20 mmHg, n = 41 patients). From the mitral inflow, peak E velocity was calculated. With tissue Doppler echocardiography, early diastolic velocity (E′) measured from the septal, lateral, inferior and lateral mitral annulus and mean value of E′ and E/E′ ratio were calculated. The time difference between onset of mitral inflow and onset of early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (T_E′-E) was calculated. From the apical chambers, the peak systolic strain value of 16 left ventricular (LV) segments was measured and the mean of these 16 segments was calculated and referred to as mean systolic strain index. Results The patients with increased LVEDP (group 1) had a higher E/E′ ratio (13.8 ± 3.4 vs. 9.9 ± 2.8, P < 0.001) and lower mean systolic strain index (11.8 ± 3.4 % vs. 13.5 ± 3.6 %, P = 0.038) than patients in group 2. The sensitivity of E/E′ > 13.42 for identifying LVEDP > 20 mmHg was 71%, with a specificity of 89%. The sensitivity of a mean systolic strain index < 10.57% for identifying LVEDP > 20 mmHg was 44%, with a specificity of 83%. T_E′-E was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion The decreased longitudinal function of the left ventricle is related to increased LVEDP. The E/E’ ratio, which in recent years has been used for the prediction of LV filling pressures, was a better predictor for increased LVEDP than the mean systolic strain score index and the time difference between onset of mitral inflow and onset of early diastolic mitral annulus velocity in patients with coronary artery disease.     

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.     

Myocardial function in severe aortic stenosis before and after aortic valve replacement: a Doppler tissue imaging study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the value of Pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) in assessing diastolic and systolic function in patients with severe aortic value stenosis. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with aortic stenosis (AS) (valve orifice < or = 1 cm 2 , mean age 71.8 +/- 6.2) and 35 comparable healthy subjects were studied. All subjects performed conventional 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and DTI at mitral annulus level. Patients with AS were divided into 2 groups: 16 patients who presented initial signs of HF and a depressed left ventricular systolic function (AS I) (EF: 35%-50%) and 19 patients were asymptomatic and had normal left ventricular systolic function (EF > 50%) (ASII). The 16 symptomatic AS patients underwent surgical aortic valve replacement and were examined after 1 year. RESULTS: DTI was able to detect abnormalities of systolic and diastolic function in AS: the significantly lower peak S velocity in AS I than in AS II and in controls, both at septum and lateral wall level; the significantly lower peak E velocity in AS I than in AS II and in controls both at septum and lateral wall level; the significantly higher peak A velocity in AS I than in AS II and in controls both at septum and lateral wall level; the significant lower E/A ratio in AS I than in AS II and in controls both at septum and lateral wall level. CONCLUSION: We found a significant inverse correlation between DTI lateral S velocity, DTI peak E velocity, lateral DTI E/A ratio, and AS peak and mean gradient. According to the results of this study we can affirm that DTI parameters surely had an important physiopathological impact in the knowledge of myocardial function in patients with severe aortic stenosis.     

Evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function using color kinesis

Purpose Color kinesis (CK) is a real-time echocardiographic technique based on acoustic quantification that yields regional and global information by tracking and color-encoding endocardial motion. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and usefulness of diastolic CK images with ICK software to objectively assess global and regional left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. Accordingly, diastolic properties obtained from CK images were compared with conventional Doppler echocardiographic indices. Methods We studied 56 subjects who underwent echocardiographic evaluation in our laboratory for assessment of cardiac structure and function. Criteria for inclusion included the presence of normal sinus rhythm and adequate two-dimensional echocardiographic imaging. Exclusion criteria were (1) all types of arrhythmias, (2) pericardial effusion, (3) heart rates <55 or >90 beats/min, (4) abnormal interventricular septal motion caused by right ventricular pressure or volume overload, (5) moderate to severe mitral or aortic regurgitation, and (6) mitral valve stenosis. Using pulsed Doppler echocardiography, peak velocities during rapid filling (E) and atrial contraction (A) were measured, and the E/A ratio and deceleration time of the E wave velocity (DT) were calculated. The time-velocity integral (TVI) of the E wave (TVI-R), A wave (TVI-A), and rapid-filling fraction (TVI-R/TVI-R+TVI-A) was measured. The early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Ea) was measured by tissue Doppler. The 56 subjects were divided into the following three groups: (1) an impaired relaxation group consisting of 30 patients with normal ejection fraction and a mitral inflow pattern with a reduced E/A ratio (E/A < 1.0); (2) a pseudonormal group consisting of 18 patients with a mitral inflow pattern with an increased E/A ratio (E/A > 1.0), an increased E/Ea ratio (E/Ea 10), and no shortened DT (≧140 ms) [patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 8), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 8), and aortic valve stenosis (n = 2) were included in this group); and (3) a restrictive group consisting of eight patients with a mitral inflow pattern with an increased E/A ratio (E/A >1.5), an increased E/Ea ratio (E/Ea ≧10), and a shortened DT (<140 ms) [patients with DCM (n = 5) and HCM (n = 3) were included in this group]. As a control group, 20 normal subjects (30 ± 18 years) were selected on the basis of having high-quality echocardiographic images. Diastolic CK images were obtained from the LV midpapillary short-axis view. The analysis of CK diastolic images was performed by using ICK software. The CK-diastolic index (CK-DI) was defined as the degree of LV segmental expansion during the first 30% of diastole, expressed as a percentage. The mean CK-DI was calculated from the average CK-DI of six LV segments. Results No relationship was observed between mean CK-DI and rapid-filling fraction in any of the study subjects (r = −0.092, P > 0.2). Mean CK-DI was significantly lower in the restrictive group (34.2% ± 4.3%) compared with the normal group (70.6% ± 7.4%), the impaired relaxation group (50.5% ± 7.7%), and the pseudonormal group (42.3% ± 7.5%). The reduction of mean CK-DI was found to be associated with the progression of LV diastolic dysfunction. Conclusion We conclude that the analysis of diastolic CK by using ICK software is a useful technique that can be applied to quantitative evaluation of LV global diastolic function.     

Comparison between aortic, mitral and tricuspid annular velocities measured with quantitative two-dimensional color Doppler tissue imaging in healthy subjects

OBJECTIVES: To compare the systolic, early and late diastolic velocities of the aortic, mitral and tricuspid annuli in healthy subjects and to study the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility (IIOR) of measuring the velocities at the aortic annulus. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects with mean age 28 years were investigated with quantitative two-dimensional color Doppler tissue imaging and the systolic, early and late diastolic velocities were measured at the aortic, mitral and tricuspid annuli. RESULTS: The mitral annulus had significant higher systolic velocity and early diastolic velocity than the aortic annulus. The late diastolic velocity was significant lower at the aortic annulus compared with the both other annuli. At the different sites of the annuli the highest systolic velocity and early diastolic velocity were measured at the lateral site of the mitral annulus, whereas the lowest systolic velocity was measured at the septal site of the same annulus. The lowest early diastolic velocity was found at the septal site of the aortic annulus. The highest late diastolic velocity was measured at the lateral site of the tricuspid annulus and the lowest at the lateral site of the aortic annulus. CONCLUSIONS: The mitral annulus has statistical significant higher systolic and early diastolic velocities than the aortic annulus. There are significant differences in velocities between several of the different sites of the annuli. IIOR of measuring the systolic and early diastolic velocities of the aortic annulus is good.     

应变率成像鉴别左室舒张功能假性正常

目的探讨二尖瓣环不同位点的应变率检测在鉴别左室舒张功能假性正常中的应用价值。方法对左室舒张功能假性正常的28例高血压患者和25例对照组病例,于二尖瓣环水平4个位点进行应变率成像（SRI）检测,并与多普勒组织成像（DTI）检测结果对比分析。结果左室舒张功能假性正常组SRI显示瓣环平面不同位点的舒张早期峰值（SRe）降低,而舒张晚期峰值应变率（SRa）均明显升高,与对照组比较差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。SRe与DTI舒张期早期运动速度（Em）呈正相关（r=0．46,P〈0．05）;SRa与舒张期晚期运动速度（Am）呈正相关（r=0．76,P〈0．05）。假性正常组SRI检查位点阳性（SRe／SRa〈1）总检出率为97．3％,大于DTI的位点阳性（Era／Am〈1）总检出率86．6％,且P〈0．05。结论SRI技术能较准确地鉴别左室舒张功能假性正常,可作为临床正确评价左室舒张功能一种全新无创的检测方法。     

超声测定二尖瓣环运动评价心室舒张功能

目的利用M型超声测定二尖瓣环运动(MAM)评价左室舒张功能。方法陈旧性心梗(OMI)及正常人各35例,记录二尖瓣环舒张早期和晚期M型运动曲线的下降幅度(EM、AM)和斜率(SM、SA)及二尖瓣口血流频谱。结果OMI组的EM明显降低(5.61±1.32vs8.82±1.75,P<0.001),SE下降(43.12±14.10vs73.92±21.44,P<0.001),EM/AM低(1.06±0.358vs1.67±0.44,P<0.001),EM及EM/AM与多普勒血流参数E/A具有相关(r=0.679,P<0.001,r=0.638,P<0.001),以EM<6.93为标准判断有无舒张功能不全的敏感性和特异性分别为97.14%和91.43%。结论MAM方法适用于无创评估OMI患者的左室舒张功能。     

定量组织速度成像测量二尖瓣环运动速度

目的　应用定量组织速度成像测量二尖瓣环运动速度评价扩张型心肌病患者左室舒张功能。方法　定量组织速度成像测量 14例正常人和 14例扩张型心肌病患者二尖瓣环 6个节段 (后间隔和侧壁、前间隔和后壁、前壁和下壁 )舒张早期峰值速度Ve、左房收缩期峰值速度Va ,计算Ve Va ;多普勒超声心动图测量二尖瓣口血流快速充盈速度E峰、左房收缩充盈速度A峰 ,计算E A值。结果　正常人和扩张型心肌病患者两组间E A无显著统计学差异 ,而扩张型心肌病组二尖瓣环平均Ve Va、平均Ve较正常组显著减低 (Ve Va :0 .89± 0 .11vs 1.76± 0 .76,P =0 .0 0 1;Ve :-4 .79± 2 .2 2vs -8.42± 2 .2 7,P<0 .0 0 0 1) ;正常组中二尖瓣环平均Ve Va与E A显著相关 (r =0 .63 ,P =0 .0 0 8) ,而扩张型心肌病组二尖瓣环平均Ve Va与E A无显著相关。结论　扩张型心肌病患者二尖瓣口血流频谱表现为假性正常化 ,定量组织速度成像测量二尖瓣环运动速度可准确评价其左室舒张功能。     

舒张早期心内充盈减射评价左室舒张功能研究

目的：探讨应用超声心动图测量心室内舒张早期心内充盈减射评价左室舒张功能。方法：连续观察92例受检者,其中正常者19例,高血压患者26例,冠心病47例（其中A／E＞132例）;A／E＜110例;房颤5例）,将脉冲多普勒取样容积置于二尖瓣口及离瓣口1cm、2cm、3cm分别记录心内舒张早期二尖瓣口及离瓣口1cm、2cm、3cm舒张期血流速度,测量En(n=1,2,3)峰值速度计算En与E0比值及二尖瓣口舒张期血流频谱Ao/E0比值。结果：左室舒张早期血流速度在高血压和冠心病组从二尖瓣口至心尖逐渐减低,高血压和冠心病（A／E＞1,A／E＜1,Af）组舒张期心内充盈减射E3及E3／E0比值与E0及E1／E0比值存在差异（P＜0．05）。同时E3／E0舒张功能参数与传统二尖瓣口A0／E0比值存在线性相关（r＝－0．83,P＜0．001）。结论：因此上述超声心动图指标方法可用于评价左室舒张功能,心内充盈减射E3／E0可用于传统指标评价左室舒张功能受限制A／E＜1“假正常”及房颤患者。     

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.     

Mitral annulus velocity in the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function in atrial fibrillation.

This study assessed the clinical utility of mitral annulus velocity in the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. The clinical usefulness of conventional Doppler indexes is limited in atrial fibrillation because of the altered left atrial pressure and loss of synchronized atrial contraction. Mitral inflow and mitral annulus velocities were measured simultaneously with tau in 27 patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation at the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Among deceleration time of mitral inflow, peak mitral inflow velocity (E), and peak diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E), only E correlated with tau (r = 0.51, P =.007). Prolonged tau (>/=50 ms) could be predicted by E <8 cm/s with a sensitivity of 73% (16 of 22) and a specificity of 100% (5 of 5). The E/E ratio correlated with left ventricular filling pressure (r = 0.79, P <.001). The E/E ratio of >/=11 could predict elevated left ventricular filling pressure (>/=15 mm Hg) with a sensitivity of 75% (9 of 12) and a specificity of 93% (14 of 15). Mitral annulus velocity is useful in the detection of impaired left ventricular relaxation and estimation of filling pressure even in patients with atrial fibrillation.