Evaluation of cardiac structures and function in systemic sclerosis by Doppler echocardiography.

Ventricular diastolic filling was investigated in a series of 51 consecutive patients with systemic sclerosis by means of Doppler echocardiography. Peak flow velocity in early (peak E) and late (peak A) diastole, E/A ratio, slope of the early diastolic flow velocity and isovolumic relaxation period were calculated. Nine out of the 51 patients showed abnormalities of ventricular filling dynamics in the absence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction at rest and after provocation. The abnormal diastolic filling pattern in these patients was detected in spite of the absence of systemic hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy or other clinically evident myocardial disease. These diastolic abnormalities might represent an isolated evidence of the underlying myocardial fibrosis not yet clinically apparent.     

Right ventricular thickness as predictor of global myocardial performance in systemic sclerosis: A Doppler tissue imaging study

Background

Cardiopulmonary involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a poor prognostic factor, due to pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction. We assessed the echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular (RV) function in SSc and correlated echocardiographic findings to clinical features of the disease.

Methods

Thirty patients with SSc (cases) and 30 healthy, age-matched subjects (controls) were studied. Echocardiography, including tissue Doppler imaging, was used to evaluate cardiac function.

Results

Pulmonary hypertension could be documented in only 5 cases by Doppler echo, using Bernoulli principle. RV diastolic function was significantly deranged in cases. RV systolic function and left ventricle (LV) diastolic function were also significantly deranged in the cases. RV thickness was increased in patients with SSc. There were no significant differences in the echocardiographic variables between diffuse and limited subtypes of SSc. Myocardial performance index (MPI) of both ventricles were increased in cases. We could demonstrate RV thickness as the single most important predictor of MPI of both ventricles with sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 72% for RV-MPI and 63% for LV-MPI. Diastolic function was not found to be affected by disease duration or Rodnan skin score.

Conclusion

Patients with SSc exhibit abnormal RV and LV diastolic functions as well as abnormal RV systolic function. RV wall thickness was found to be simple and the single best predictor of global myocardial performance. RV dysfunction may be a response to intermittent pulmonary arterial hypertension, lung parenchymal involvement, or secondary to LV diastolic dysfunction in SSc.Abbreviations: ACE-I, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; DT, deceleration time; DTI, Doppler tissue imaging; E/A ratio, early diastolic/atrial component velocity ratio; ET, ejection time; FVC, forced vital capacity; Hct, hematocrit; HRCT, high-resolution computed tomography; IVCT/ICT, isovolumic contraction time; ILD, interstitial lung disease; IVRT/IRT, isovolumic relaxation time; LV, left ventricle/ventricular; LVEDD, left ventricular end diastolic dimension; LVEDV, left ventricular end diastolic volume; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LVESD, left ventricular end systolic dimension; LVESV, left ventricular end systolic volume; MPI, myocardial performance index; PAH, pulmonary arterial hypertension; PAP, pulmonary artery pressure; PASP, pulmonary artery systolic pressure; PAT, pulmonary acceleration time; RR, electrocardiographic R–R interval; RVEF, right ventricular ejection fraction; RV, right ventricle/ventricular; SSc, systemic sclerosis     

Right ventricular diastolic function in chronic obstructive lung disease.

Early detection of diastolic dysfunction in chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) patients could have great prognostic value. Echocardiography has been shown to be a useful technique in studying left ventricular diastolic function. A noninvasive method of studying right ventricular diastolic function has not yet been reported. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography was used to assess right ventricular diastolic function in three groups of subjects: Group I: 35 COLD patients with pulmonary hypertension; Group II: 32 COLD patients without pulmonary hypertension; and Group III: 18 control subjects. Ratios between peak atrial filling velocity (A) and peak early filling velocity (E) (A/E), deceleration half times of the right ventricular rapid filling wave (DHT), and the interval between pulmonary valve closure and tricuspid valve opening (isovolumic relaxation times) (Pc-To) were significantly different in Group I in comparison to Groups II and III. Sensitivity of A/E ratio and Pc-To were 82 and 77%, respectively, and specificity 90 and 72%, respectively; positive predictive values were 90 and 75%, respectively, and negative predictive value 82 and 74% respectively. The multiple correlation coefficient between A/E, acceleration time (ACT), DHT, Pc-To and mean pulmonary artery pressure was 0.75 for Groups I and II together. In conclusion 2D echo-Doppler proved to be useful in evaluating right ventricular diastolic function in all hypertensive COLD patients, revealing a high correlation between diastolic parameters and mean pulmonary artery pressure in both normotensive and hypertensive COLD patients.     

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with COPD in the presence and absence of elevated pulmonary arterial pressure

BACKGROUND: Increased right ventricular afterload leads to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction due to ventricular interdependence. Increased right ventricular afterload is frequently present in patients with COPD. The purpose of this study was to determine whether left ventricular diastolic dysfunction could be detected in COPD patients with normal or elevated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). METHODS: Twenty-two patients with COPD and 22 matched control subjects underwent pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction and other causes of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (eg, coronary artery disease) were excluded in all patients and control subjects. PAP was measured invasively in 13 patients with COPD. RESULTS: The maximal atrial filling velocity was increased and the early filling velocity was decreased in patients with COPD compared to control subjects. The early flow velocity peak/late flow velocity peak (E/A) ratio was markedly decreased in patients with COPD compared to control subjects (0.79 +/- 0.035 vs 1.38 +/- 0.069, respectively; p < 0.0001), indicating the presence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. The atrial contribution to total left diastolic filling was increased in patients with COPD. This was also observed in COPD patients with normal PAP, as ascertained using a right heart catheter. The atrial contribution to total left diastolic filling was further increased in COPD patients with PAP. PAP correlated with the E/A ratio (r = -0.85; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is present in COPD patients with normal PAP and increases with right ventricular afterload.     

Echocardiographic alterations in systemic sclerosis: a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the evolution of cardiac alterations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Echocardiographic and echo-Doppler findings from 77 unselected SSc patients were analyzed at the first clinical observation and after a follow-up period of 65 +/- 36 months. Data were compared with those obtained from 45 normal subjects matched for age and sex. RESULTS: Baseline left ventricular (LV) systolic function was normal in all patients and controls while LV diastolic dysfunction (expressed by an inverted E/A ratio which represents early and late filling of the LV during atrial contraction) was present in 23 patients and in 1 control ( P < 0.001). At the end of the follow-up period, while LV systolic function declined in 1 case alone, 6 further patients developed an inverted E/A ratio. Moreover, in the group of SSc patients mean A-wave values, E/A ratio, left atrial dimension, and LV wall thickness significantly changed, all indicating the progression of heart involvement. The alteration of LV diastolic function was independent of other known causes potentially affecting LV relaxation. Moreover, impairment of LV filling parameters was detected in the first phase of follow-up, while the anatomical changes occurred in the last phase. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the significant prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction in SSc patients and the role of primary myocardial involvement. The long-term follow-up demonstrates that LV filling dysfunction is progressive and precedes the occurrence of LV remodeling.     

Noninvasive assessment of left ventricular diastolic function: comparative analysis of Doppler echocardiographic and radionuclide angiographic techniques

This investigation was performed to determine whether variables obtained directly from the Doppler left ventricular diastolic flow velocity profile provide a reliable estimate of diastolic function. Measurements of diastolic flow velocity obtained by Doppler echocardiography were compared with volumetric measurements of left ventricular diastolic filling determined by radionuclide angiography in 12 subjects without cardiac disease and in 25 patients with a variety of cardiac diseases. The two methods were in agreement in distinguishing normal from abnormal diastolic function in 21 (84%) of the 25 patients with cardiac disease, identifying diastolic function as normal in 8 and abnormal in 13 of these patients. Good correlations were observed between certain Doppler variables of left ventricular diastolic flow velocity and radionuclide angiographic variables of left ventricular filling. The time interval from the aortic closing component of the second heart sound to the end of the early diastolic flow velocity peak, assessed with Doppler echocardiography, correlated well with the time interval from end-systole to the end of rapid filling, assessed with radionuclide angiography (r = 0.83). Descent of the Doppler early diastolic flow velocity peak correlated well with the radionuclide angiographic peak filling rate (r = 0.79). The ratio between the heights of the early and late (due to atrial systole) peaks of diastolic flow velocity showed good correlation with the ratio between percent of left ventricular filling during rapid filling and during atrial systole (r = 0.76). These findings demonstrate that the left ventricular diastolic flow velocity profile obtained with Doppler echocardiography compares favorably with radionuclide angiographic variables in the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Filling patterns in left ventricular hypertrophy: A combined acoustic quantification and Doppler study

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of acoustic quantification compared with Doppler echocardiography for assessment of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.Background. Diastolic dysfunction usually accompanies left ventricular hypertrophy. Although Doppler echocardiography is widely used, it has known limitations in the diagnosis of diastolic abnormalities. The ventricular area-change waveform obtained with acoustic quantification technology may provide an alternative to assess diastolic dysfunction.Methods. Potential acoustic quantification variables (peak rate of area change and mean slope of area change rate during rapid filling, amount of relative area change during rapid filling and atrial contraction) were obtained and compared with widely used Doppler indexes of ventricular filling (isovolumetric relaxation time, pressure half-time, peak early diastolic velocity/peak late diastolic velocity ratio, rapid filling, atrial contribution to filling) ia 16 healthy volunteers and 30 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.Results. Criteria for abnormal relaxation were present in 68% of patients by acoustic quantification and in 64% of patients by Doppler echocardiography. However, abnormal relaxation was identified in 89% of patients by one or both methods. Acoustic quantification indicated abnormal relaxation in the presence of completely normalized Doppler patterns and in patients with mitral regurgitation or abnormal rhythm with unreliable Doppler patterns.Conclusions. Acoustic quantification potentially presents a new way to assess diastolic dysfunction. This technique may be regarded as complementary to Doppler echocardiography. The combined use of the methods may improve the diagnosis of left ventricular relaxation abnormalities.     

Pulsed Doppler assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in atrial septal defect

From January 1986 through December 1990, we used pulsed Doppler echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular diastolic function in 43 patients with an ostium secundum atrial septal defect. The study population included 27 females and 16 males, whose ages ranged from 6 to 58 years (mean, 26 years). The patients were grouped according to degree of pulmonary hemodynamic impairment: patients in Group 1 (n = 6) had severe pulmonary hypertension, those in Group 2 (n = 10) had mild-to-moderate pulmonary hypertension, and those in Group 3 (n = 27) had no pulmonary hypertension. For comparison, we also evaluated 30 healthy individuals. All control subjects had a normal left ventricular filling profile. Of the 43 study patients, 8 (19%) showed Doppler echocardiographic signs of impaired left ventricular relaxation, including a prolonged left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time, decreased peak left ventricular diastolic inflow velocity, and a prolonged mean deceleration time of early diastolic flow velocity. Of these 8 patients, 5 were from Group 1, 1 was from Group 2, and 2 were from Group 3. A positive correlation (r = 0.66; standard error of the estimate = 0.32) was found between the late-to-early left ventricular diastolic inflow velocity ratio and the pulmonary-to-systemic vascular resistance ratio. Our results showed impaired left ventricular relaxation in 8 (19%) of patients with atrial septal defect; 5 of these patients had severe pulmonary hypertension. We therefore conclude that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is closely related to severe pulmonary hypertension.     

Right ventricular diastolic abnormalities in systemic sclerosis. Relation to left ventricular involvement and pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVES: To investigate right ventricular diastolic function in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its relation to clinical features of the disease. METHODS: Seventy seven unselected SSc patients and 33 healthy subjects were submitted to echocardiography and echo Doppler study to assess left and right systolic as well diastolic function and to estimate maximal arterial systolic pulmonary pressure (PAP). In addition, the patients were investigated to define the SSc subset and the extent of skin and internal organ involvement. RESULTS: An abnormal right ventricular filling, as expressed by an inverted tricuspidal (Tr) E/A ratio (Tr E/A ratio <1), was detected in 31 of the 77 SSc patients (40%) and in 0 of the 36 controls ( p<0.001 ). All the 31 patients with an inverted Tr E/A ratio were found to have a PAP > 30 mm Hg. Twenty resulted to have an inverted mitral (Mit) E/A ratio (Mit E/A ratio <1), indicating an abnormal left ventricular filling. In multiple regression analysis, Tr E/A ratio resulted to be independently correlated to both PAP (r= -0.35;p<0. 003) and Mit E/A ratio (r=0.39;p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study points out an impaired right ventricular filling in a significant percentage of SSc patients whatever the subset. This alteration is independently correlated to both PAP and left ventricular filling abnormalities.     

Quantitative assessment of systolic and diastolic ventricular function with tissue Doppler imaging after Fontan type of operation

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that "inappropriate hypertrophy" of the single left ventricle, which occurs as a result of acute preload reduction, leads to adverse consequences on ventricular function. However, a systematic study of the capability of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to assess systolic and diastolic ventricular functions after the Fontan procedure is still missing. METHODS: Twenty-four postoperative patients aged 12-33 years were prospectively evaluated with two-dimensional echocardiography equipped with TDI capabilities. Nineteen age-matched normal subjects were selected as controls. Good-quality echoes for the measurement of ejection fractions were available in 21 patients. Ten patients (group 1) had systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction < 50%), and 11 patients (group 2) had normal systolic function. Peak systolic and diastolic wall velocities were acquired from the two-chamber view in the myocardia and mitral annulus. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the Fontan patients had a significantly reduced peak systolic velocity at wall and annulus sites. A linear correlation existed between ejection fraction and systolic myocardial velocity from the annular sites. Group 1 patients had lower wall velocities and lower annulus velocities both in systole and diastole. Group 2 patients had preserved systolic velocities but decreased regional and annular early diastolic velocities, suggesting impaired filling. Multiple correlation analysis showed a relation between peak early diastolic mitral velocity and ventricular ejection fraction, mean mitral annular motion at systole, mass/volume ratio, and the number of years post Fontan revision. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial velocities recorded after the Fontan operation give insight into systolic and diastolic ventricular functions. The peak systolic mitral annular velocity correlated well with the ventricular ejection fraction. The peak early diastolic velocity and the ratio between the early and late diastolic mitral annular velocity are reduced and reflect diastolic dysfunction even in the presence of normal systolic ejection fraction.     

Myocardial hypertrophy and left ventricular diastolic function in hypertensive patients: an echo Doppler evaluation

The presence and the characteristics of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in mild to moderate systemic hypertension were evaluated in 13 normotensive subjects (Group I), in 12 hypertensive subjects without (Group II) and 28 with (Group III) LV hypertrophy who underwent two-dimensional Doppler echocardiographic study. Among Group III patients, a subset (n = 12) with a dilated left ventricle was identified. Diastolic filling parameters were impaired in Group III patients while, in Group II, they were intermediate between Groups I and III. In all Group III patients normalized peak filling rate (nPFR) correlated directly with mean velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (mVCF) (r = 0.55; P less than 0.001) and inversely with left ventricular mass index (LVM) (r = -0.60; P less than 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd) (r = -0.63; P less than 0.001), LV peak systolic stress (LVWST) (r = -0.64; P less than 0.01). A separate analysis showed that these correlations were also present in patients without left ventricular dilation; in the subset with left ventricular dilation nPFR correlated only with LVWST (r = -0.73; P less than 0.01), but not with LVM, mVCF, LVIDd. Thus, left ventricular hypertrophy is one of the major determinants of diastolic dysfunction in hypertensives; other factors influence nPFR values in hypertensive patients when the left ventricle dilates.     

心脏负荷改变对多普勒超声左室舒张功能指标的影响

本文用脉冲多普勒超声对30名正常人和30例高血压病患者,做了握力试验和硝酸甘油试验前后的左室舒张功能测定。结果表明,53%(16/30)的早、中期高血压病患者存在左室舒张期充盈形式异常,表现为E/A之比<1。心脏前负荷降低和后负荷增加,使舒张功能正常和异常者的E/A之比降低,呈现与左室舒张功能减退相似或舒张功能减退加重的二尖瓣血流频谱。     

Abnormal diastolic function in patients with type 1 diabetes and early nephropathy

Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in non-diabetic controls (n = 11) and in patients with type 1 diabetes without microvascular disease (n = 16; diabetic controls), with microalbuminuria (n = 9), or with early persistent proteinuria (n = 11). The peak filling velocities during the early and atrial phases of left ventricular diastole and their ratio (E:A ratio) were measured. All patients with diabetes had a normal serum concentration of creatinine and exercise electrocardiogram. The mean E:A ratio was significantly lower in those with proteinuria than in the diabetic controls because of an increase in peak atrial filling velocity; most patients with proteinuria had an abnormal E:A ratio of less than 1.0. Multiple regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure was the major determinant of both the peak filling velocity during the atrial phase of diastole and also left ventricular mass. Blood pressures were significantly higher in the proteinuria group than in the diabetic controls. Glycaemic control and autonomic function did not influence diastolic filling. The slightly raised blood pressures at the earliest stages of diabetic nephropathy are sufficient to alter left ventricular diastolic compliance--this may reflect early hypertensive heart disease. These data do not preclude a specific heart muscle disease related to diabetes, but suggest that these slightly raised blood pressures contribute significantly to left ventricular dysfunction in these patients, in whom the risk of cardiovascular disease is already greatly increased.     

Abnormal diastolic function in patients with type 1 diabetes and early nephropathy.

Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in non-diabetic controls (n = 11) and in patients with type 1 diabetes without microvascular disease (n = 16; diabetic controls), with microalbuminuria (n = 9), or with early persistent proteinuria (n = 11). The peak filling velocities during the early and atrial phases of left ventricular diastole and their ratio (E:A ratio) were measured. All patients with diabetes had a normal serum concentration of creatinine and exercise electrocardiogram. The mean E:A ratio was significantly lower in those with proteinuria than in the diabetic controls because of an increase in peak atrial filling velocity; most patients with proteinuria had an abnormal E:A ratio of less than 1.0. Multiple regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure was the major determinant of both the peak filling velocity during the atrial phase of diastole and also left ventricular mass. Blood pressures were significantly higher in the proteinuria group than in the diabetic controls. Glycaemic control and autonomic function did not influence diastolic filling. The slightly raised blood pressures at the earliest stages of diabetic nephropathy are sufficient to alter left ventricular diastolic compliance--this may reflect early hypertensive heart disease. These data do not preclude a specific heart muscle disease related to diabetes, but suggest that these slightly raised blood pressures contribute significantly to left ventricular dysfunction in these patients, in whom the risk of cardiovascular disease is already greatly increased.     

Doppler characterization of left ventricular diastolic function in cardiac amyloidosis

Sixty-four patients with primary systemic amyloidosis-53 with two-dimensional echocardiographic features of cardiac involvement (Group I) and 11 without cardiac involvement (Group II)--underwent Doppler echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular diastolic function. Pulsed wave Doppler recordings of left ventricular inflow velocities and pulmonary vein flow velocities with respiratory monitoring in these patients were compared with findings in a normal group. Patients in Group I showed striking abnormalities of left ventricular diastolic filling when classified into subgroups by mean left ventricular wall thickness: early greater than 12 but less than 15 mm; advanced greater than or equal to 15 mm. In early amyloidosis, relaxation was abnormal, with decreased peak early velocity (75 +/- 20 versus 86 +/- 16 cm/s; p less than 0.01), increased late velocity (71 +/- 22 versus 56 +/- 13 cm/s; p less than 0.01), decreased early to late velocity ratio (1.2 +/- 0.6 versus 1.6 +/- 0.5; p less than 0.01) and prolonged isovolumic relaxation time (87 +/- 15 versus 73 +/- 13 ms; p less than 0.01) compared with normal values. In advanced amyloidosis, there was a restrictive filling pattern with a markedly shortened deceleration time (148 +/- 50 versus 199 +/- 32 ms; p less than 0.001), decreased pulmonary vein peak systolic flow velocity (34 +/- 16 versus 54 +/- 12 cm/s; p less than 0.01) and increased diastolic flow velocity (55 +/- 20 versus 44 +/- 12 cm/s; p less than 0.01) compared with normal values. Group and the subgroup with early amyloidosis had similar flow velocity patterns. Thus, this study documents that in cardiac amyloidosis, a spectrum of diastolic filling abnormalities exists; the restrictive filling pattern is seen only in the advanced stages.     

E/E' ratio is more sensitive than E/A ratio for detection of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus

To investigate whether the ratio of mitral peak velocity of early filling (E) to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E') (E/E' ratio) can detect left ventricular diastolic dysfunction more sensitively than the ratio of E to mitral peak velocity of late filling (A) (E/A ratio) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 137 patients with SLE were investigated and compared with 110 age-matched and sex-matched controls retrospectively. Two-dimensional echocardiography and M-mode echocardiography including conventional and tissue Doppler imaging were performed. There were no differences in the left ventricle ejection fractions and the mean E/A ratio between the two groups. However, the mean E/E' ratio of patients was higher than that of the controls (10.4 +/- 4.0 vs 7.7 +/- 2.1, P < 0.01). Significantly higher left ventricle ejection fractions and lower E/E' ratio were found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker than those not receiving (P < 0.05). Our study showed that the E/E' ratio is more sensitive than the E/A ratio for detection of the left ventricle diastolic dysfunction. Furthermore, patients who had received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker treatment showed significantly better preservation of both systolic and diastolic function of left ventricle in comparison with those who had not received.     

多普勒组织成像与脉冲多普勒方法对比评价高血压患者舒张功能

目的应用脉冲多普勒组织成像测量二尖瓣环平均舒张速度,以鉴别高血压患者舒张功能假性正常。方法在健康者(正常组200例)与高血压患者(高血压组47例)中,应用脉冲多普勒技术分别测量二尖瓣口舒张早期峰值速度(E)、舒张晚期峰值速度(A),肺静脉收缩波(S)、舒张波(D)及心房收缩波(Ar)。应用脉冲多普勒组织成像测量二尖瓣环各点舒张早期峰值速率(Ea)、舒张晚期峰值速率(Aa)。结果正常组与对照组患者二尖瓣E、A、E/A差异无显著性意义,肺静脉S、S/D、Ar差异有显著性意义,二尖瓣环平均Ea间差异有显著性意义,Aa间差异无显著性意义。结论二尖瓣环舒张早期速率可用于鉴别高血压舒张功能假性正常。     

Diastolic abnormalities in systemic sclerosis: evidence for associated defective cardiac functional reserve.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pattern of diastolic abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the relationship between impaired ventricular filling and systolic function. METHODS: Twenty four patients with SSc underwent M-mode and two dimensional echocardiography using echo-Doppler and gated blood pool cardiac angiography, both at rest and after exercise. RESULTS: An impaired diastolic relaxation of the left ventricle was detected in 10 of the 24 patients with SSc. Left ventricular ejection fraction at rest in these 10 patients with impaired ventricular filling did not differ from that in the remaining 14 patients, but eight of the 10 failed to increase their ejection fraction during exercise, compared with two of the 14 with normal ventricular filling (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Impaired relaxation of the left ventricle is a recently described feature of scleroderma heart disease. Diastolic dysfunction in SSc could depend on myocardial fibrosis or myocardial ischaemia, or both. It was found to be associated with a defective cardiac functional reserve. However, its prognostic significance remains to be clarified.     

Cardiac Involvement in Limited Systemic Sclerosis: Non-invasive Assessment in Asymptomatic Patients

Nineteen patients with limited systemic sclerosis (SSc) and without any cardiac symptoms were evaluated non-invasively for silent cardiac involvement using electrocardiography; M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography, and resting and post exercise radionuclide ventriculography. Left anterior hemiblock and mild pericardial effusion were seen in two patients. The interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness were greater in patients compared with controls. Patients with limited SSc also exhibited low early diastolic filling velocities and a low early diastolic atrial filling ratio. However, these values did not correlate with the age of the patient or disease duration. Eight patients (42.1%) were found to have cardiac dysfunction, of which four had combined systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Isolated systolic and diastolic dysfunction was seen in three patients and one patient, respectively. The age and disease duration in patients with cardiac dysfunction did not differ from patients without cardiac dysfunction. Functional cardiac involvement occurs in a large proportion (42.1%) of patients with limited SSc, and can be easily picked up by non-invasive methods such as echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography. The prognostic significance of these findings requires further long term studies. Received: 12 February 1998 / Accepted: 22 October 1998     

Reversal E/A value at end-inspiration might be more sensitive and accurate for diagnosing abnormal left ventricular diastolic function

BACKGROUND: It is well known that left ventricular (LV) filling decreases on inspiration and increases on expiration; however, respiratory effects on diastolic function have not been fully investigated. AIM: This study attempted to provide further information on the precise diagnosis of LV diastolic dysfunction when taking respiration into account. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with systemic hypertension and impaired LV diastolic function and 33 normal subjects were recruited. Respiratory transmitral Doppler flow parameters and the early-to-late diastolic tissue velocity ratio of the mitral annulus (e/a ratio) of the septal wall were recorded. The validity of the reversal ratio of early-to-late peak flow velocity (E/A ratio) on inspiration and on expiration for diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction was compared. RESULTS: The E velocity was much higher and its deceleration time was much shorter on expiration compared to that on inspiration, while the A velocity demonstrated no regular respiratory variations both in normal subjects and patients. Ten of the patients displayed a phenomenon characterized with an E/A ratio < 1 on inspiration and > 1 on expiration, eight of whom revealed abnormal LV filling by Tissue Doppler imaging. CONCLUSION: Respiratory effects on transmitral Doppler flow parameters raise the necessity of adjustment of the existing standard for precise diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction, while the characteristic phenomenon reported here indicates that reversal E/A value on end-inspiration is a more sensitive and accurate indicator of abnormal LV diastolic function.