| Abstract: | Aortic root motion on M-mode echocardiography is related to left atrial volume change. Early diastolic motion of the aortic root has been quantified by the atrial emptying index. This index has been shown by some investigators to assess early diastolic left ventricular filling, while other investigators report conflicting findings. To evaluate further early diastolic motion of the posterior aortic root, we describe a new echocardiographic parameter—the slope of early diastolic posterior aortic root motion. This parameter appears superior to the atrial emptying index in assessing early diastolic left ventricular filling. Forty-one patients were studied by M-mode echocardiography and were divided into group I (17 patients) with diminished E to F mitral value slopes (<70 mm/sec) and group II (24 patients) with normal E to F mitral valve slopes (≥70 mm/sec). Patients in group I and group II had comparable left atrial sizes and left ventricular dimensions. The aortic root slope and normalized aortic root slope (normalized for left atrial dimension) in group I (3.7 ± 1.4 cm/sec and 1.0 ± 0.4 sec?1, respectively) were significantly less than in group II (6.4 ± 1.4 cm/sec and 1.9 ± 0.6 sec?1, respectively). The atrial emptying index and atrial emptying index normalized for heart rate were not different between the two groups. When the 41 patients were analyzed according to the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiography, only the normalized aortic root slope was significantly different in patients with or without left ventricular hypertrophy. A significant linear correlation (r = 0.84, P < 0.0005) was found between the aortic root slope or normalized aortic root slope and the E to F slope of the mitral valve. Significant correlations also existed between the aortic root slope and the slope of early diastolic left ventricular rapid filling. Therefore, the slope of early diastolic motion of the posterior aortic root appears to be a useful and easily obtainable echocardiographic parameter to assess early diastolic left ventricular filling. |
