彩色多普勒检测肺静脉血流评价冠心病患者左心室舒张功能

目的　探讨彩色多普勒超声心动图检测冠心病患者肺静脉血流频谱评估左心室舒张功能的价值。方法　冠心病组 4 0例 ,无心脏疾患者 (对照组 ) 30例 ,用彩色多普勒超声心动图检测各组肺静脉血流频谱(PVEP)、二尖瓣血流频谱 (MVFP)的变化和左室舒张功能的关系。结果　与对照组比较 ,冠心病组PVEP中S峰速度加快 ,D峰速度减慢 ,S/D >1,AR波明显加快 ,持续时间延长 ,两组之间有明显差异 (P <0 0 0 1) ;MVFP中E峰降低 ,A峰增加 ,E峰减速时间 (EDT)延长 ,E/A <1。结论　肺静脉血流频谱结合二尖瓣血流频谱能较全面评价冠心病患者的左心室舒张功能。     

M型彩色多普勒超声心动图对原发性高血压和冠心病患者左室舒张功能的研究

目的用M型彩色多普勒超声心动图研究原发性高血压(EH)和冠心病(CAD)的左室舒张功能,并与传统方法比较.方法用M型彩色多普勒超声心动图,研究了36例正常人(Ⅰ组),74例原发性高血压患者(Ⅱ组)和33例冠心病患者(Ⅲ组).测定左室舒张早期、晚期跨二尖瓣血流峰速(E峰和A峰)、早晚期血流峰速比(E/A)和舒张晚期跨二尖瓣血流峰速时间(AD);同时测定肺静脉收缩期血流速度(S)、舒张期血流速度(D)、肺静脉返流速度(Pva)和返流时间(Pvad).采用M型彩色多普勒超声心动图测定了从二尖瓣到心尖的早期充盈峰速传播速率(Vp),早期充盈峰速时间(TD)和Vp/E比值.结果三组在性别、年龄和心率方面无统计学差异.根据EF值将患者分成EF≤60%组(收缩功能障碍组)和EF＞60%组(收缩功能正常组).收缩功能障碍组与收缩功能正常组的所有传统舒张功能参数无显著性差异,但两组在Vp、TD和Vp/E差异有统计学意义.对10例收缩功能障碍患者(EF≤60%)而E/A值正常(＞ 1)(假性正常化)的研究结果显示,在假性正常化组和对照组Vp、T)和Vp/E有显著性差异(P＜0.01).而其他舒张功能参数差异无显著性.结论①原发性高血压和冠心病患者存在舒张功能障碍.②M型彩色多普勒超声心动图测定的早期充盈峰速传播速率和时间(vp、TD和Vp/E)是评价左室舒张功能更精确和更可靠的参数,它们可以区别假性正常化的跨二尖瓣血流类型.     

慢性心力衰竭的左心室舒张功能检测

目的探讨舒张性心力衰竭(心衰)与收缩性心衰的超声特点。方法选择舒张性心衰患者40例为舒张性心衰组,并选择基本情况与之匹配的收缩性心衰患者40例为收缩性心衰组。应用多普勒技术进行舒张功能的检测,进而评价2组在心房、心室容积,二尖瓣口血流舒张早期流速(E)与二尖瓣口血流舒张晚期流速(A)及其比值(E/A)和E峰减速时间,二尖瓣环舒张早期峰值速度(e)和二尖瓣环舒张晚期峰值速度(a)及其比值(e/a),左心房反流入肺静脉血流速度,P波终末电势等方面的差异。结果舒张性心衰组与收缩性心衰组比较,E/A、e/a倒置。舒张性心衰组E峰减速时间延长,左心房反流入肺静脉血流速度增宽。舒张性心衰组左心房增大,左心室舒张末径正常。P波终末电势负值增大。结论肺静脉血流频谱和二尖瓣环组织多普勒可作为二尖瓣血流频谱重要补充。     

肺静脉多普勒血流频谱评价永久人工VVI心脏起搏器对左心室舒张功能的影响

目的探讨应用多普勒超声心动图标测肺静脉血流频谱及二尖瓣血流频谱的变化,无创评价永久人工VVI心脏起搏器植入前后左心室舒张功能的价值。方法对24例患者在永久人工VVI心脏起搏器植入前和植入后2个月进行多普勒超声心动图测量肺静脉收缩期最大流速(S)、S波的速度-时间积分(Svti)、舒张早期最大流速(D)、D波的速度时间积分(Dvti)、Svti/(SDvti+Svti)为收缩分数(SF)、心房收缩反向A波的最大速度(PA)、PA波间期(PAd);二尖瓣E峰最大速度(E)、A峰最大速度(A)、E/A比值。结果永久人工VVI心脏起搏器术后2个月时S、Svti较术前显著下降(P<0.05);Dvti、PA、PAd较术前显著升高(P<0.05);但D术后2个月较术前无显著变化(P>0.05)。永久人工VVI心脏起搏器植入术后2个月时E、E/A较术前显著下降(P<0.05);A较术前显著升高(P<0.05)。结论永久人工VVI心脏起搏器植入术后,左心室舒张功能减退。肺静脉血流频谱结合二尖瓣血流频谱可以准确的反映左心室舒张功能。     

多普勒超声对左室舒张压升高的评估作用

目的探讨二尖瓣口血流频谱和瓣环的组织多普勒频谱与左室平均舒张压的关系。方法将79例患者分为正常组、早期舒张功能不全组和假性正常化组,测量其二尖瓣口的血流频谱（E、A、E/A比值和E峰减速时间DT）、二尖瓣环的组织多普勒频谱（s、e、a和e/a比值）、肺静脉血流频谱（PVs、PVd）及E/e。结果与假性正常化组的E/e比值比较,显著高于其它两组（P<0.01）;与假性正常化组的左室平均舒张压（mLVDP）为（12.6±2.8）mmHg比较,显著高于早期舒张功能不全组的左室平均舒张压（6.8±1.7）mmHg（P<0.01）,E/e比值与左室平均舒张压（mLVDP）呈较好的相关性（r=0.83,P<0.01）。结论E/e比值增高对评估mLVDP升高意义较大。     

脉冲多普勒检测肺静脉及二尖瓣血流的临床意义评价

左心室舒张功能异常,是评价早期心肌缺血的一项敏感指标。近年来将二尖瓣血流频谱分析研究,作为评价左室功能常用指标的报道较多,与肺静脉血流频谱同时进行对照研究则鲜见报道。我们应用彩色多普勒超声心动图检测了3组共150例右上肺静脉血流频谱,与二尖瓣血流进行对比分析,旨在讨论二尖瓣与肺静脉血流频谱评价左室舒张功能的临床意义,报告如下。     

多普勒超声心动图4种检测方法评价左室舒张功能

目的　应用二尖瓣血流频谱、肺静脉血流频谱、彩色M型多普勒超声心动图 (CMM)和组织多普勒图像 (DTI)等 4种方法评价左室舒张功能 ,并对其结果进行比较。　 方法　使用 4种多普勒超声心动图方法测定的相应数值评价正常组 (3 0例 )、高血压组 (3 0例 )及心肌梗死组 (2 7例 )的左室舒张功能的情况。　 结果　 (1)二尖瓣血流频谱表明高血压组左室舒张功能异常表现为松弛减退 (E/A <1) ;(2 )心肌梗死组E/A值与正常组比较无明显差异 ,肺静脉舒张末逆流峰值 (AR)明显增大 ,CMM测定的舒张早期血流传导速度 (FPV)明显减小 ,DTI测定的负向舒张早期波 (Ea)及Ea与负向舒张晚期波 (Aa)的比值 (Ea/Aa)与其他 2组比较P均 <0 0 1。　 结论 　评价左室舒张功能异常时 ,二尖瓣血流频谱能及早发现松弛减退 ,在可能存在假性正常时 ,综合应用AR、FPV、Ea、Ea/Aa可予以识别。考虑到经胸途径检查肺静脉往往比较困难且费时较多 ,而FPV、Ea、Ea/Aa测定简便易行 ,是综合评价左室舒张功能的有用指标。     

冠心病左心功能不全时肺静脉血流频谱的研究

目的 :通过对冠心病 (CHD)左心功能不全患者的肺静脉血流频谱的研究探索肺静脉血流频谱在CHD左心功能评定中的意义。方法 :应用脉冲多普勒技术对 132例左心功能Ⅰ～Ⅳ级的CHD患者及 90例健康人 (正常对照组 )进行了肺静脉血流频谱各项参数的测定并进行对照研究。结果 :与正常对照组相比CHD患者的肺静脉血流频谱D波的最大流速 (Dp)、S波最大流速 (Sp) /Dp及二尖瓣血流频谱的E峰的最大流速 (E)、A峰的最大流速 (A)在Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ级心功能出现异常 (P <0 .0 5～ 0 .0 1) ,肺静脉血流频谱S波持续时间 (ST)及二尖瓣血流E/A在Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ级心功能均出现异常 (P <0 .0 5～ 0 .0 0 1) ,S波的速度和时间积分 (Si)、A波的速度和时间积分 (Ai)在Ⅲ、Ⅳ级心功能时出现异常 ,A波持续时间 (AT)在Ⅲ级心功能时出现异常 (P <0 .0 5 )。Sp、肺静脉的收缩期积分 (SF)在Ⅳ级心功能时才出现异常 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :CHD患者舒张功能受损早于收缩功能 ,一旦出现收缩性心功能不全 ,临床上均为混合型左心功能不全。如果已经存在严重左心收缩功能不全的CHD患者肺静脉血流频谱Dp、D波的速度和时间积分 (Di)、AT及二尖瓣血流频谱E/A正常化说明是左心舒张功能严重受损的一种假性正常化。肺静脉血流频谱Dp、ST、Sp/Dp为CHD患者早期     

彩色室壁运动技术评价左心室舒张功能—CK软件定量价值

目的应用定量彩色室壁运动技术和CK软件定量评价左心室局部与整体不同程度的舒张功能减低。方法在32例高血压和/或冠心病患者、16例扩张型心肌病患者和18例年龄匹配的正常对照组中留取CK图像和二尖瓣及肺静脉多普勒血流频谱。测定左心室短轴乳头肌水平各节段舒张期1/3的心内膜位移面积百分比及其偏差(1/3RFAC及1/3RFAC-sd)以评价有舒张功能异常患者的舒张期心内膜位移时相的延迟和位移不协调性。结果随着舒张功能的减低,1/3RFAC值逐渐减低,1/3RFAC-sd值增大。结论CK能相对直接地评价舒张功能。尤其对鉴别二尖瓣血流频谱呈假性正常的患者意义显著。采用CK定量分析软件可以将CK图像定量分析。     

肺静脉血流识别二尖瓣血流假性正常化的临床研究

目的　探讨肺静脉血流频谱识别二尖瓣血流频谱假性正常化的临床意义及价值。方法　临床确诊为原发性高血压病患者 6 9例。根据超声心动图 ,分为左室肥厚组和非肥厚组。 2 8例正常对照组。应用HPSonos 2 5 0 0超声诊断仪和 2 5MHz的超声探头记录二尖瓣口和右上肺静脉入口处多谱勒血流图。结果　 (1)不同组间二尖瓣血流频谱各指标比较无差别。肺静脉血流的ARD在高血压LVH组较无LVH组及正常组延长(P <0 0 5 ) ;VTIs(VTIs+VTId)在高血压LVH组较其它两组低 (P <0 0 5 ;ARD/AD在高血压LVH组较其它两组高 (P <0 0 5 ) )。 (2 )在左室壁肥厚组 ,二尖瓣血流表现出更高的E/A比值 (P <0 0 1) ;肺静脉血流频谱的ARD、ARD/AD较不肥厚组明显增大 (ARD :P <0 0 5 ;ARD/AD :(P <0 0 1)。结论　综合二尖瓣及肺静脉血流频谱可以识别二尖瓣血流频谱假性正常化 ,更全面反应左室的舒张功能。     

Pulmonary venous flow in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as assessed by the transoesophageal approach. The additive value of pulmonary venous flow and left atrial size variables in estimating the mitral inflow pattern in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: This study was conducted to assess the characteristics of the pattern of pulmonary venous flow and to document the interaction of this flow and left atrial function with the pattern of mitral inflow in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pulmonary venous and mitral flows were evaluated by the transoesophageal approach in 80 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Left atrial size and function were measured by the transthoracic approach. Their values were compared with those obtained from 35 normal controls. Twelve patients showed significant (> 2+) mitral regurgitation. As a group, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients showed increased atrial reversal flow and longer deceleration time of the diastolic wave, but a wide variability of pulmonary venous flow patterns were observed. Thirty patients (37.5%) had pseudonormal mitral flow patterns. Stepwise multilinear regression analysis identified the ratio of systolic to diastolic pulmonary venous flow velocity, the ratio of velocity-time integrals of both flow waves at atrial contraction, the left atrial minimal volume and the systolic fraction as independent predictive variables of the mitral E/A wave velocity ratio (r = 0.82). By logistic regression, the former three variables were selected as independent predictive covariates of a pseudonormal mitral flow pattern (sensitivity: 83%, specificity: 90%). The ratio of velocity-time integrals of both atrial waves was the most important predictive variable in both analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The observed variability in the configuration of pulmonary venous flow velocity waveform is related to what occurs in transmitral flow in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Significant mitral regurgitation is not an independent correlate of pseudonormal mitral inflow patterns in these patients. Our results further emphasize the complementary, additive value of the pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern and left atrial size in the interpretation of the mitral flow velocity pattern, and indirectly suggest the underlying increased left ventricular filling pressures of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and pseudonormal mitral flow patterns.     

Retrograde atrial kick in acute aortic regurgitation. study of mitral and pulmonary venous flow velocities by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography

Background and hypothesis: The purpose of this study was the comprehensive evaluation of the changes in pulmonary venous and mitral flow velocities of patients with acute and chronic severe aortic regurgitation. Transmitral flow velocities obtained with pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography have been used to provide information on left ventricular (LV) filling and diastolic function. Pulmonary venous flow tracings are an important adjunct to LV inflow pattern in assessing LV diastolic function. Methods: Fourteen patients with severe aortic regurgitation (8 chronic and 6 acute) and in sinus rhythm were examined by transthoracic and transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Mitral and pulmonary flow velocities were recorded and compared. All patients had ejection fractions > 40%. Results: Early mitral flow peak velocity was higher in patients with acute regurgitation (p<0.001). The mitral A wave was absent in five patients with acute regurgitation. In contrast, a prominent reverse atrial pulmonary systolic wave AR was demonstrated in these patients. Peak diastolic velocity of the pulmonary venous flow was greater in patients with acute aortic regurgitation (0.76 ± 0.13) than in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (0.40 ± 0.09) (p<0.001). Peak systolic velocity did not differ significantly between the two groups. The systolic fraction of pulmonary venous flow in patients with acute aortic regurgitation was lower (0.43 ± 0.05) than that of patients with chronic regurgitation (0.63 ± 0.1) (p<0.01). All patients with acute aortic regurgitation had an S/D ratio < 1, while those with chronic regurgitation had an S/D >1 (p< 0.001) and an E/A<1. Conclusion: Patients with severe acute aortic regurgitation showed a retrograde atrial kick (absence of transmitral A wave with prominent pulmonary AR wave). These patients had an S/D ratio < 1 (restrictive Doppler pattern). Patients with chronic aortic regurgitation exhibited a Doppler pattern of abnormal LV relaxation (E/A <1, S/D > 1).     

Left Atrial Contribution to Left Ventricular Filling in Patients with Mitral Stenosis: Combined Analysis of Transmitral and Pulmonary Venous Flow Velocities

We recorded transmitral and pulmonary venous flow velocities using transthoracic continuous-wave and transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography, respectively, in 36 patients with mitral stenosis who were in sinus rhythm to investigate the left atrial contribution to left ventricular filling in mitral stenosis. The mitral valve area was determined by transthoracic two-dimensional short-axis echocardiography. Patients were classified as having mild stenosis (± 1.5 cm², n = 17) or moderate stenosis (< 1.5 cm², n = 19). The mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and left atrial maximal diameter were significantly larger, and left atrial volume change during atrial contraction was significantly smaller in the moderate group than in the mild group. The percent left atrial contribution to left ventricular filling, estimated from the transmitral flow velocity, the peak atrial systolic velocity, and the percent ratio of left atrial systolic regurgitation to left atrial filling, estimated from the pulmonary venous flow velocity, were significantly lower in the moderate group than in the mild group. The percent left atrial contribution to left ventricular filling, the peak atrial systolic velocity, and the percent ratio of left atrial systolic regurgitation to left atrial filling were positively correlated with the mitral valve area and negatively correlated with the mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. These results suggest that the left atrial contribution to left ventricular filling in patients with mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm decreases as the severity of valve stenosis increases, and that analysis of the atrial systolic waves of the transmitral and pulmonary venous flow velocities provides important information for evaluation of left atrial systolic performance in patients with mitral stenosis.     

肺静脉血流定量评定左室舒张功能的临床研究

目的:探讨肺静血流频谱评价高血压病患者左室舒张功能减退程度的价值。方法:确诊的原发性高血压病患者69例根据超声心动图检查结果被分为左室肥厚组(LVH)和无肥厚组,28例健康志愿者作为正常对照组。应用HPSonos2500型超声诊断仪和2.5MHz超声探头记录心尖四腔切面,二尖瓣口和右上肺静脉入口处多普勒血流图。结果:(1)不同组间二尖瓣血流频谱各指标无差别。高血压LVH组较无LVH组及正常组肺静脉血流AR波持续时间(ARD)显著延长(110.21±18.39∶89.78±20.12、90.93±13.11,P<0.01),ARD/AD(A波持续时间)显著增大(1.18±0.40∶0.91±0.19、0.81±0.20,P<0.01);S波流速积分(VTIs)/S、D波流速积分之和(VTIs+VTId)较其它两组低(0.51±0.09∶0.62±0.12、0.60±0.11,P<0.01);(2)在二尖瓣血流正常的高血压病患者中,左室肥厚组较之无肥厚组二尖瓣血流E/A比值显著增大(1.37±0.37∶1.06±0.65;P<0.01);肺静脉血流频谱的ARD、ARD/AD(ARD:120.15±26.60∶82.37±16.38,P<0.05;ARD/AD:1.38±0.34∶0.73∶0.25,P<0.01)明显增大。结论:综合二尖瓣及肺静脉血流频谱可以更全面反应左室的舒张功能,检测不同程度的舒张功能不全。     

Analysis of pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns in hypertensive hearts: its complementary value in the interpretation of mitral flow velocity patterns.

Although the Doppler mitral flow velocity pattern changes in accordance with the degree of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, it is "normalized" in the presence of heart failure. In this study the pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern was characterized in 43 hypertensive patients with and without heart failure to clarify whether analysis of the pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern provides complementary information in the interpretation of the mitral flow velocity pattern. The mitral flow velocity pattern in 32 hypertensive patients without heart failure was characterized by decreases in the peak early diastolic filling velocity (E) and the ratio of E to peak filling velocity at atrial contraction. The mitral flow velocity pattern was "normalized" in 11 patients with heart failure, with no differences in any mitral flow velocity pattern indexes as compared with 24 normal subjects. The pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern in hypertensive patients without heart failure was characterized by a decreased peak diastolic forward flow velocity (D) and an increased ratio of peak systolic forward flow velocity (S) to D (S/D ratio). In patients with heart failure, D was higher and the S/D ratio was lower compared with hypertensive patients without heart failure (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.01) and normal subjects (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.01). Thus the pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern appeared to be more reliable than the mitral flow velocity pattern in differentiating subgroups of patients with hypertension. Analysis of the pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern in conjunction with the mitral flow velocity pattern provides important and complementary information in the interpretation of the mitral flow velocity pattern in hypertensive patients with and without heart failure.     

超声心动图对扩张型心肌病患者左室功能的测定

目的:观察频谱超声心动图测量扩张型心肌病(DCM)患者左室功能的作用以及二尖瓣口血流指标对评价DCM患者左室舒张功能中的价值。方法:用超声心动图对30例二尖瓣返流较轻的DCM患者、30例二尖瓣返流严重的DCM患者和30例正常人的左室收缩功能和舒张期二尖瓣口血流指标结果分别进行对比分析。结果:同对照组比较,(1)DCM患者左室短轴缩短率(FS)和射血分数(EF)显著降低(P<0.05或P<0.0001);(2)二尖瓣返流较轻的DCM组反映左室舒张功能的二尖瓣血流频谱早期充盈峰速度(VE)、VE/VA显著降低,晚期充盈峰速度(VA)显著增加(P<0.0001);(3)二尖瓣返流严重的DCM患者上述参数无明显差异(P>0.05),表现为“正常”。结论:超声心动图能准确反映DCM患者的左室收缩功能,二尖瓣口血流指标对于二尖瓣返流轻微的DCM患者的左室舒张功能评价有一定的参考价值,而对二尖瓣返流严重DCM患者的左室舒张功能评价有待进一步探讨。     

Accurate determination of mitral regurgitation by assessing its influence on the combined diastolic mitral and pulmonary venous flow: just 'looking twice'.

AIMS: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of combined transmitral E wave velocity and reversed systolic pulmonary venous flow for the quantification of mitral regurgitation severity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Measuring forward and total left ventricular stroke volume, mitral regurgitation severity was assessed quantitatively by calculating the regurgitant fraction in 106 consecutive patients with pure mitral regurgitation. According to the regurgitant fraction, the optimal E wave velocity for accurate distinction of mild to moderate and more than moderate mitral regurgitation was chosen by calculating the receiver-operating characteristic plot. Severe mitral regurgitation was defined by reversed systolic pulmonary venous flow.Combining transmitral E wave velocity and reversed systolic pulmonary venous flow had an overall accuracy of 78% (95% CI 70--86%) for classification of mitral regurgitation severity. E wave velocity >1.0ms(-1) predicted more than moderate mitral regurgitation with 78% sensitivity (95% CI 69-86%) and 90% specificity (95% CI 82--95%), resulting in a positive likelihood ratio of 8.1 (95% CI 5--15) and negative likelihood ratio of 0.25 (95% CI 0.18--0.35). For reversed systolic pulmonary venous flow in the presence of increased E wave velocity, the sensitivity and specificity to detect severe mitral regurgitation was 78% (95% CI 69--86%) and 97% (95% CI 92--99%) with the corresponding positive and negative likelihood ratio of 29 (95% CI 11--96) and 0.22 (95% CI 0.14--0.31). Test accuracy was independent of systolic function in a multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: 'Looking twice', once at the transmitral E wave velocity and once at pulmonary venous flow in patients with mitral regurgitation, allows accurate determination of moderately severe and severe mitral regurgitation.     

"Peak Summation" Left Ventricular Filling Pattern in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and a “peak summation” left ventricular pattern, no hemodynamic and prognostic information can be drawn from Doppler examination of mitral flow. In 263 consecutive patients with CHF who were undergoing simultaneous right heart catheterization and echo-Doppler examination, we prospectively determined (1) the frequency of the peak summation left ventricular filling pattern and (2) the incremental information contributed by pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns in providing noninvasive hemodynamic profile estimation. Isovolumic relaxation time of mitral flow, peak systolic (X), diastolic forward (Y), reverse (Z) flow velocity, and systolic fraction (X/X + Y) of pulmonary venous flow were measured. Forty-six of 263 (17%) patients had a peak summation left ventricular filling pattern. This subgroup showed more clinical deterioration (New York Heart Association functional class III-IV, 57% vs 49%; P < 0.01) and left atrial dysfunction (left atrial ejection fraction, 31% vs 39%; P < 0.001). However, 40% of these patients had a pulmonary wedge pressure of> 18 mmHg and a cardiac index of < 2.2 L/min/m². The systolic fraction of peak velocities of pulmonary venous flow showed a good correlation with pulmonary wedge pressure (r = -0.70, P < 0.05). The correlation was stronger in patients without mitral regurgitation (r = -0.81, P < 0.05). A systolic fraction of < 40% was accurate (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 95%) in identifying patients with a pulmonary wedge pressure of < 18 mmHg. In patients without mitral regurgitation, this variable was also correlated with cardiac index (r = -0.65, P < 0.05) and predicted a cardiac index of < 2.2 L/min/m² (sensitivity, 91% specificity, 71%). In conclusion, a peak summation left ventricular filling pattern is common in patients with CHF. Pulmonary venous flow provides useful information about the hemodynamic profile of these patients.     

Doppler-derived mitral and pulmonary venous flow variables are predictors of pulmonary hypertension in dilated cardiomyopathy

This study assessed whether Doppler-derived mitral and pulmonary venous flow parameters were predictors of pulmonary artery hypertension in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Doppler echocardiographic examinations were performed in patients (n = 100) with dilated cardiomyopathy in sinus rhythm either symptomatic or asymptomatic before and after optimized therapy with ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and vasodilators. In case of weak or poor Doppler signals, measurable tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary venous flow tracings were obtained after intravenous administration of 2.5 grams of Levovist at 400 mg/ml. At baseline, left ventricular ejection fraction was 30% +/- 7% and pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 48 +/- 14 mmHg. At the follow-up study carried out after 6 +/- 2 months, reversibility of pulmonary artery hypertension was apparent only in those patients exhibiting favorable changes of mitral flow curve from the restrictive or pseudonormal to impaired relaxation pattern (53 +/- 7 mmHg vs 38 +/- 8 mmHg; P < 0.0001). Numerous variables correlated significantly with pulmonary artery systolic pressure at baseline, while the correlations were generally weaker at the follow-up study. The closest correlations were found with E wave deceleration rate (r = 0.73) at baseline and with the systolic fraction of pulmonary venous flow forward peak velocities (r = -0.67) at follow-up. The stepwise regression model showed that the E wave deceleration rate and the degree of mitral regurgitation were the strongest independent predictors of pulmonary hypertension at baseline, while the ratio between pulmonary venous flow reverse and mitral wave velocities at atrial systole and ejection fraction added minor contributions, leading to a cumulative r value of 0.81. The systolic fraction was the strongest at the follow-up study, with minor contributions provided by the E wave deceleration rate and the left atrial dimension index, leading to a cumulative r value of 0.71.