Diagnosis of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction by Doppler echocardiography

Left ventricular(LV) diastolic dysfunction with preserved LV systolic function is common among patients with hypertension, especially with LV hypertrophy. Doppler echocardiography is one of the most useful clinical tools for the evaluation of diastolic function. Mitral inflow and pulmonary venous flow velocities are used not only for the assessment of diastolic function but also for predicting prognosis. Recently, tissue Doppler echocardiography has been also applied to evaluate diastolic function. Accurate assessment of diastolic function has been demonstrated by measuring both mitral annulus and mitral inflow velocity. In this article, We review the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction by Doppler echocardiography using mitral inflow velocity, pulmonary venous flow velocity and mitral annulus velocity measured by tissue Doppler imaging.     

评估冠心病左室舒张功能多普勒几项技术的对比研究

目的　探讨二尖瓣口血流多普勒、肺静脉血流多普勒及组织多普勒成像技术评价左室舒张功能 ,并对该三种多普勒技术进行对比性研究。方法　对 166例冠心病患者的舒张功能进行检测 ,分别探测二尖瓣口血流舒张早期与心房收缩期峰值速度E A比值、肺静脉血流收缩期与舒张早期峰值速度S D比值以及二尖瓣环室间隔、侧壁、前壁、下壁四个壁舒张早期及晚期运动速率比值的平均值e a比值。结果　在冠心病患者左室舒张功能轻度不全时 (E A <1) ,二尖瓣环DTI测值e a <1的阳性率最高 ,为 10 0 % ,肺静脉血流S D >1.5比值的阳性率为 98%。在二尖瓣口血流频谱多普勒显示假性正常时 ( 2 >E A >1) ,二尖瓣环DTI测值e a <1的阳性率为 93 % ,而肺静脉血流频谱多普勒S D <1的阳性率仅为 76%。在二尖瓣口血流频谱多普勒显示限制性充盈时 (E A >2 ) ,二尖瓣环DTI测值e a <1的阳性率则为 5 8% ,而肺静脉血流频谱多普勒S D <1的阳性率为 83 %。结论　在舒张功能减退的早期 ,二尖瓣环DTI测值阳性率最高。在二尖瓣口血流频谱多普勒显示假性正常时 ,二尖瓣环DTI明显优于肺静脉血流频谱。在限制性充盈时 ,二尖瓣环e a的阳性率反而不及肺静脉血流     

多普勒组织成像评价小儿心脏移植术后心功能

目的用超声心动图二维、M型、彩色多普勒及脉冲多普勒组织成像(PW-DTI)等方法对小儿心脏移植术后非排异期心脏的结构、形态、血流、功能等状态进行综合评价，重点探讨PW-DTI对小儿心脏移植术后非排异期心功能评价的意义。方法移植组和对照组各36例，应用超声心动图、PW-DTI测量左室舒张末期内径，室间隔厚度，左室后壁厚度，左室质量，左室短轴缩短率，二、三尖瓣前向血流舒张早、晚期峰值速率及心率；将PW-DTI取样容积置于二尖瓣瓣环水平左室侧壁、室间隔及三尖瓣环水平右室壁采样，获取收缩期和舒张早、晚期PW-DTI运动速度曲线。结果移植组的所有PW-DTI速度曲线参数均较对照组低。二尖瓣瓣环水平左室侧壁舒张早期峰值速率，室间隔及三尖瓣环收缩期峰值速率，舒张早、晚期峰值速率与对照组差异有显著性意义；而其他指标移植组与对照组基本相同。结论PW-DTI速度曲线参数的结果提示心脏移植术后非排异期患儿在常用的心功能指标测值正常时，已存在右室收缩、舒张功能及左室舒张功能的减低，以右心功能减低为明显。PW-DTI是一种敏感、简便的测量小儿心脏移植后左、右心功能的方法．     

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.     

健康人左室舒张功能与年龄及心率变化关系的研究

目的应用多普勒超声心动图在健康人群中观察左室舒张功能随年龄及心率变化的趋势,探讨生理性舒张功能减退的影响因素。方法对北京市社区30岁以上431名健康居民进行超声心动图检查,分别测定二尖瓣血流频谱、肺静脉血流频谱、二尖瓣环组织多普勒速度频谱。结果随年龄增长,Epeak、PVD及Em均减慢,而Apeak、Am及Ar加快,E／A比值、Em／Am比值均下降;EDT、DAr及IVRT均延长。随心率加快,Am增快,E／A比值下降,Em／Am比值下降。结论Epeak、Apeak、E／A比值、Em、Am及Em／Am比值等舒张功能参数与增龄关系密切,其不仅可作为评定左室舒张功能的依据,也可作为一种衰老指标,或综合衰老指标的一种要素。评定左室舒张功能时,除年龄外,心率也是不容忽视的一个重要的影响因素。     

Echocardiography

Advancement of echocardiography has been remarkable recently and has been useful to diagnose and manage chronic heart failure. Tissue Doppler echocardiography can measure myocardial motion velocity thereby enabling us to assess global and regional myocardial function. Mitral annular velocity in early diastole has been reported to correlate with left ventricular diastolic relaxation. The ratio of pulsed Doppler mitral flow velocity to the mitral annular velocity in early diastole is used to assess pulmonary capillary wedge pressure or left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Comparison of time to peak of myocardial systolic velocity among various segments provides us important information on ventricular dyssynchrony, which is crucial for the success of cardiac resynchronization therapy. Finally, real-time three-dimensional echocardiography has emerged as a new modality to assess cardiac anatomical abnormalities. It is also promising to measure ventricular volume accurately.     

Diastolic flow characteristics of severely impaired left ventricles: a pulsed Doppler ultrasound study

Left ventricular inflow was studied with pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 12 normals and 12 patients with a dilated left ventricle as a result of ischemic heart disease. To study the influence of left ventricular relaxation on both the transmitral and apical diastolic flow patterns, we applied range ambiguity. This provides simultaneous display of Doppler shifts obtained at different depths. The diastolic Doppler shift curves at the mitral valve and apical level in normals had the same time of onset, whereas there was an apparent time delay in the patients with heart disease (range 160-360 ms). This might be caused by absence of a normal apical wall motion in these patients.     

Doppler assessment of left ventricular diastolic function: a review.

Two-dimensional echocardiography provides valuable information for the assessment of left ventricular function. Traditionally, evaluation has focused on determination of systolic performance. However, recent investigations indicate diastolic dysfunction may also contribute to symptoms of congestive heart failure in many patients despite normal systolic function. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography complements two-dimensional imaging for assessment of left ventricular filling properties that are often altered in the setting of diastolic dysfunction. The concept of diastolic function and recognition of abnormal filling patterns detected by pulsed Doppler echocardiography are reviewed.     

Évaluation des pressions de remplissage ventriculaire gauche par échocardiographie-doppler

The evaluation of left ventricular (LV) filling pressures is crucial to identify a congestive heart failure in a patient presenting with an acute respiratory failure. This evaluation traditionally relies on the invasive measurement of the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure during right heart catheterization. Echocardiography Doppler is an unparalleled alternative technique to assess LV filling pressures, which also provides anatomical and functional information on the heart and great vessels. Pulsed wave Doppler of the mitral valve and pulmonary veins provides indices that are easy to measure and allow a semi-quantitative assessment of LV filling pressures. Their accuracy increases in the presence of a LV systolic dysfunction. New Doppler indices, which assess more specifically LV diastolic properties (Doppler Tissue Imaging of the mitral ring, color M-mode propagation velocity) can be combined to traditional Doppler parameters to more precisely assess LV filling pressures. In addition, echocardiography allows a comprehensive assessment of both the left and right ventricular function, the diagnosis of an underlying cardiopathy, or the identification of an acute condition of the heart or great vessels that precipitated the acute respiratory failure. Accordingly, echocardiography Doppler is a cornerstone in the evaluation of patients presenting to the intensive care unit with a respiratory failure and a high index of suspicion of pulmonary venous congestion. This imaging modality is particularly valuable for the evaluation of patients with a medical history of chronic respiratory failure and cardiac failure, to confirm or confidently rule out a cardiogenic pulmonary edema, or to identify a cardiac source of ventilator weaning failure.     

Effect of preload reduction by haemodialysis on new indices of diastolic function

Assessment of mitral annular motion diastolic velocities by M-mode or tissue Doppler imaging and the propagation velocity of early diastolic filling (Vp) by colour M-mode have been proposed as preload-independent indices of diastolic function. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of preload reduction by haemodialysis on these new echocardiographic indices and to assess the relationship between these indices. The study group comprised 17 patients with chronic renal failure in sinus rhythm with normal left ventricular systolic function who underwent echocardiography 30 min prior to and 30 min following haemodialysis. Following dialysis there were significant reductions in weight (P<0.001), left atrial diameter (P=0.001), the peak Doppler velocity of early diastolic transmitral flow (P=0.005) and the ratio of Doppler velocities of early to late diastolic transmitral flow (P=0.02), consistent with a reduction in intravascular volume. There was no change after dialysis in early diastolic mitral annular velocity using M-mode (P=0.19) or tissue Doppler imaging from either the septal or lateral walls (P=0.88 and P=0.15 respectively), but there was a reduction in Vp after dialysis (55 to 49 cm/s; P=0.04). There were only weak correlations between Vp and the early diastolic mitral annular velocities (r<0.6 for all). We conclude that the assessment of diastolic function by the mitral annular early diastolic velocity appears to be preload-independent, that Vp may be affected by preload and that there is only a weak relationship between Vp and the early diastolic mitral annular velocity.     

健康人左室质量与舒张功能的关系

目的：探讨健康人左室质量与左室舒张功能的关系。方法：随机选取健康教师320名，行彩色多普勒超声心动图检查，结果：相关分析显示：伴随左室质量的增加E波的峰值速度下降，A波的峰值增加，二者比值下降，等容松驰时间延长，肺静脉收缩波峰值与舒峰值之比增加，但多元回归显示年龄增长、心率加快、体重指数大、血压高和男性是舒张功能减退的独立因素，左室质量指数进入多元回归方程，结论：决定健康人左室舒张功能的因素是年龄、心率、体重指数，血压和性别而不是左室质量。     

房间隔应变率成像鉴别左室舒张功能假性正常表现

目的探讨房间隔应变率成像技术判定左室舒张功能假性正常的应用价值。方法30例正常人与左室舒张功能下降患者52例,脉冲多普勒测量二尖瓣口血流,组织多普勒测量二尖瓣环左室侧壁处速度,应变率成像观察房间隔应变率(SR)曲线、应变(S)曲线变化,SR曲线测量舒张早期峰值SRe,舒张晚期峰值SRa;S曲线测量舒张晚期峰值Sa,测量结果各组进行对照分析。结果左室舒张功能受损各组别SRe、Sa及SRe/SRa明显低于正常组(P<0.01)。结论房间隔应变率成像可鉴别左室舒张假性正常,并可定量评价左室舒张功能下降。     

Pulmonary venous flow velocity: relation to hemodynamics, mitral flow velocity and left atrial volume, and ejection fraction.

Abnormal pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns are present in multiple cardiac disease states, but the determinants of pulmonary venous flow velocity have not been fully elucidated. To determine the relative importance of several proposed factors that could influence pulmonary venous flow, anatomic, hemodynamic, and Doppler mitral and pulmonary venous flow velocity data were compared in 50 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for clinical reasons. Pulmonary venous diastolic flow velocity was most strongly related to left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation time (r = -0.59), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP, r = 0.50), left atrial minimum volume (r = 0.50), mitral deceleration time (r = -0.50), and early diastolic mitral flow velocity (r = 0.45). Pulmonary venous systolic flow velocity related best with left atrial minimum volume (r = -0.45) and left atrial ejection fraction (r = 0.44). Pulmonary venous systolic flow velocity integral also showed the strongest relation with left atrial minimum volume (r = -0.48). Relations between pulmonary venous flow velocity and velocity time integrals and other variables were sometimes significantly different, apparently caused in part to differences in heart rate. These results suggest that pulmonary venous diastolic flow velocity is influenced by the same factors that influence early left ventricular diastolic filling; pulmonary venous systolic flow velocity relates best to left atrial volume and atrial ejection fraction and does not relate to left ventricular ejection fraction. Future studies analyzing pulmonary venous flow velocity variables should include data on both peak velocities and velocity time integrals as well as left atrial size and function.     

Tei指数评价心力衰竭患者心室功能

目的应用Tei指数评价心力衰竭患者左右心室功能。方法对20例正常人及46例左心室收缩功能不全患者，行常规彩色多普勒超声心动图检查，分别测量二尖瓣、三尖瓣闭合至下一次开放时间间期（IOM、IOT）及左、右心室射血时间（LET，RET），计算左右心室Tei指数。测量二尖瓣口、三尖瓣口舒张早期E峰、舒张晚期A峰的峰值流速（ME、MA、TE、TA），计算E峰、A峰流速比值，即ME／MA、TE／TA。测量主动脉、肺动脉瓣口前向血流峰值流速（AV、PV），并比较两组左右心室各超声参数值。结果与正常人相比，心力衰竭患者ME、MA、ME／MA、AV均增大，但差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；TE、TA、PV减小，TE／TA增大，但差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；左右心室Tei指数明显增大（P〈0．05）。结论心力衰竭患者的左心室功能异常，并常伴有右心室功能的改变。应用Tei指数综合评价心室功能，纠正了频谱多普勒评价心室舒张功能出现的假正常现象。     

肺静脉血流图鉴别二尖瓣血流图伪正常化的价值

目的 探讨肺静脉血流图鉴别二尖瓣血流图伪正常化的价值。方法 同时采用二尖瓣血流图和肺静脉血流图指标对41例正常人和91例冠心病患者左室舒张功能进行监测。结果 心肌梗死组二尖瓣血流图各指标正常,而肺静脉血流图异常,表现为心房收缩期肺静脉逆流峰A峰时限（AETp )延长,AETp与二尖瓣A峰时限（AET）之差＞0,与正常组比较差异有显著性意义;心绞痛组二尖瓣血流图和肺静血流图检测指标均异常,表现为E峰与A峰速度时间积分比值（EVTI／AVTI）降低,E峰与A峰最大流速比值（E／A）＜1,AETp延长,AETp－AET＜0,与正常组比较差异有显著性意义。结论 肺静脉血流图能鉴别二尖瓣血流图伪正常化：两指标联合应用可准确反映左室舒张功能受损的不同阶段。     

Tachycardia during the valsalva maneuver: a sign of normal diastolic filling pressures.

Alteration of the loading conditions during the Valsalva maneuver is a helpful ancillary method in the noninvasive assessment of diastolic filling of the heart by Doppler echocardiography. When tachycardia is induced by the maneuver, mitral inflow velocity curves may become uninterpretable because of E velocity (the initial early diastolic velocity on the transmitral flow velocity curve) and A velocity (the velocity at atrial contraction on the transmitral flow velocity curve) wave fusion. To determine the clinical significance of the E velocity and A velocity wave fusion, our study assessed the relation between the heart rate response induced by the Valsalva maneuver and the left ventricular filling pressures measured during cardiac catheterization. In all, 77 patients performed the maneuver during continuous hemodynamic and electrocardiographic monitoring. The ratio between the baseline R-R interval and the shortest R-R interval during the maneuver was calculated. A ratio value higher than 1.1 was predictive of a pre-A pressure of less than 18 mm Hg (94% positive predictive value). Reflex tachycardia during the Valsalva maneuver and subsequent fusion of the E velocity and A velocity waves on the mitral velocity curves is a sign of normal left ventricular filling pressures.     

应用肺静脉血流频谱诊断左室舒张功能障碍的临床意义

目的　研究肺静脉血流频谱改变对诊断左室舒张功能障碍的临床价值。方法　应用彩色多普勒超声心动图检查正常人 48例 (对照组 )、冠心病心衰患者 5 2例的肺静脉血流频谱峰值 (Sp、Dp、ap)及其速度时间积分 (Si、Di、ai)和等容舒张时间 ,分别加以对比分析。结果　冠心病组中ap、ai较正常人组显著增大 ,而Si、Dp、Di和Dp/ap、Di/ai值明显减小。ap、ai增大幅度与左室舒张功能障碍明显相关。二尖瓣口血流频谱AP >EP能反应左室舒张功能的一般状态 ,但在心衰晚期常会出现伪正常现象。等容舒张时间的延长也是左室舒张功能障碍表现之一。结论　肺静脉血流频谱可直观反应左室舒张功能障碍 ,特别是在二尖瓣的血流频谱出现伪正常时应有肺静脉血流频谱结合等容舒张时间延长 ,更能充分显示出诊断的可靠价值     

肺静脉血流频谱评价冠心病患者左心室舒张功能的价值

目的：应用彩色多普勒超声心动图研究冠心病患者肺静脉血流频谱对左心室舒张功能的价值。方法：用彩色多普勒超声心动图检测冠心病患者和相同年龄组正常人各45例的右上肺静脉血流频谱峰值（Sp、Dp、ap）及其速度时间积分（Si、Di、ai），与所检测的二尖瓣口血流频谱峰值（Ep、Ap)、速度时间积分（Ei、Ai)及等容舒张时间相比较，将结果对比分析。结果：冠心病组ap、ai较正常组显著增大，Si、Dp、Di和Dp/ap、Di/ai值明显减小，ap、ai增大幅度与左室舒张功能明显相关。二尖瓣口血流频谱测值一般反映了左室舒张功能状态，但对几例出现的“伪正常”频谱表现难以明确评价。结论：肺静脉血流可直观反映冠心病患者左心房内的压力状态，其频谱特征与二尖瓣口血流频谱结合评价左室舒张功能较用二尖瓣口血流频谱一种方法更加准确可靠。     

The use of transthoracic echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with suspected or ascertained chronic heart failure

Several indices are available to assess left ventricular (LV) function. Although ejection fraction (EF) is widely used, it has many limitations. An assessment of LV longitudinal function should be therefore provided as it precedes the impairment of EF. In this context, speckle tracking derived global longitudinal strain is the gold standard but S’ velocity of mitral annulus (by pulsed tissue Doppler) and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (by M-mode) represent more than simple surrogates. LV diastolic assessment should be oriented not to the simple classification of transmitral patterns (E/A ratio and E velocity deceleration time) but to non-invasive estimation of LV filling pressures. This can be mainly obtained from E/e’ ratio, with additional calculation of other measurements such as pulmonary flow atrial reverse velocity, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure and left atrial volume index. This comprehensive assessment could also be useful to differentiate heart failure with reduced and preserved EF in particular.     

Pulsed tissue Doppler evaluation of mitral annulus motion: a new window to assessment of diastolic function

Diastolic dysfunction is an important cause of cardiac heart failure. To date detailed assessment of diastolic left ventricular (LV) function has required invasive methods which are impractical in the clinical routine. The prevailing non-invasive method has been Doppler echocardiography with use of mitral inflow and pulmonary vein inflow parameters, measurements providing no direct assessment of either ventricular relaxation or compliance, and influenced by multiple haemodynamic factors. We sought to determine the tissue Doppler pattern from the mitral annulus motion in normals and in patients with expected LV-diastolic dysfunction. Using pulsed tissue Doppler we recorded peak velocities from the mitral annulus motion in 16 young normals, 10 older normals and in two groups of patients expected to have an LV-diastolic relaxation abnormality, i.e. 15 patients with systemic hypertension and 10 patients with significant aortic stenosis. The peak early diastolic (E) annulus velocity was significantly (P < 0·001) lower in older normals compared with young, and the late diastolic velocity (A) was higher (P < 0·01). Compared with the older normals, patients showed significantly lower E-velocities (P < 0·05 hypertensive patients), more pronounced in the patients with aortic stenosis (P < 0·001), but the A-velocities were not higher. In systole a decrease in peak velocity was noted with increasing age and in patients with aortic stenosis. In conclusion, pulsed tissue Doppler measurement of annulus motion seems to provide valuable and easily obtainable information about LV-diastolic function, and furthermore there is a striking change in velocity pattern with increasing age which necessitates age-matched reference values.