Comparison between Circumflex Artery Motion and Mitral Annulus Motion

Objective - To compare mitral annulus motion (MAM) with circumflex artery motion (CXM) and the motion amplitude at an endocardial site (representing MAM) with an epicardial site (representing CXM) at the most basal lateral part of the atrioventricular plane (AVP). Design - MAM and CXM were obtained in 28 patients examined by echocardiography and coronary angiography. The motion amplitude epicardially and endocardially was recorded by echocardiography in 13 patients with normal ejection fraction (EF) ( S 0.50) and in 13 patients with decreased EF (< 0.50). Results - CXM was higher than MAM in most patients with normal EF but lower than MAM in most patients with decreased EF. The motion amplitude epicardially was significantly higher ( p < 0.001) than endocardially in patients with normal EF, while there was no significant difference in patients with decreased EF. Conclusion - CXM represents the motion of the epicardial part of the AVP and differs from MAM, which represents the endocardial part of the wall. This must be considered when CXM is used for assessment of left ventricular systolic function.