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Background The ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic strain rate (E/e'sr) is a novel echocardiographic measure to estimate early left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. We hypothesize that E/e'sr is a predictor of outcome following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and that it is superior to the conventionally used E/e'. Methods & results Consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG at Gentofte Hospital (n = 652) were included. The mean age of the study population was 67 ± 9 years, 84% were male, mean LVEF was 50 ± 11%. Prior to surgery, all patients underwent an extensive echocardiographic examination. The outcome was all-cause mortality. During follow-up (median 3.8 years [IQR: 2.7; 4.9 years]), a total of 73 (11.2%) died. Both E/e' and E/e'sr were significant predictors in univariable models. In a multivariable model, E/e'sr remained an independent predictor of outcome (HR:1.05 [1.01–1.10], p = 0.049, per 10 cm increase) whereas E/e' did not (HR:1.05 [0.99–1.11], p = 0.053, per 1-unit increase). The relationship between E/e'sr, and the outcome was significantly modified by GLS (p for interaction = 0.043). In the multivariable model, E/e'sr was still significantly associated with the outcome in patients with high GLS (≥13.6%) (HR:1.18 [1.02–1.36], p = 0.029) but not in patients with low GLS (HR 1.04 CI95%: [0.99–1.10], p = 0.14). E/e' was not a significant predictor of all-cause mortality after multivariable adjustment in neither of the groups. E/e'sr improved net reclassification with 33% when added to EuroSCOREII. Conclusion Following CABG, preoperative E/e'sr is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality, especially in patients with preserved systolic function and superior to E/e'.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of subclinical myocardial dysfunction by using feature tracking has shown promise in prognosis evaluation of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Global early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (eGLSR) can identify earlier diastolic dysfunction; however, limited data are available on its prognostic value in HFpEF. PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between left ventricular (LV) eGLSR and primary composite outcomes (all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization) in patients with HFpEF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, consecutive patients with HFpEF (included from January 2010 to March 2013) underwent cardiovascular MRI. The correlation between eGLSR and variables was assessed by using linear regression. The association between eGLSR (obtained with use of feature tracking) and outcomes was analyzed by using Cox proportional regression. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients with HFpEF (mean age ± standard deviation, 59 years ± 12; 77 women) were included. The eGLSR was weakly correlated with LV end-diastole volume index (Pearson correlation coefficient [r] = –0.35; P < .001), heart rate (r = 0.35; P < .001), and LV ejection fraction (r = 0.30; P < .001) and moderately correlated with LV end-systole volume index (r = –0.41; P < .001). At a median follow-up of 9.2 years (interquartile range, 8.7–10.0 years), 72 patients experienced primary composite outcomes. Impaired eGLSR, defined as an eGLSR of less than 0.57 per second, was associated with a greater rate of heart failure hospitalization or all-cause death (hazard ratio, 2.0 [95% CI: 1.1, 3.7]; P = .02) after adjusting for multiple clinical and imaging-based variables. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular global early diastolic longitudinal strain rate obtained from cardiovascular MRI feature tracking was independently associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article. An earlier incorrect version appeared online. This article was corrected on October 22, 2021.

Introduction of vector flow mapping (VFM) based on the combination of color Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiography provides noninvasive assessment of early diastolic intra-ventricular pressure gradient (ED-IVPG). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of peak ED-IVPG measurement just after aortic valve closure using VFM for noninvasive estimation of impaired LV untwisting velocity as the index of LV relaxation in the clinical setting. The study included 65 consecutive patients in whom echocardiography was performed for the assessment of LV function. We assessed peak ED-IVPG between LV apex and base by VFM analysis software. We also measured peak LV untwisting velocity and LV twisting by speckle-tracking strain analysis. Peak ED-IVPG was successfully and quickly assessed in all the study patients. Peak ED-IVPG was significantly reduced in patients with impaired peak LV untwisting velocity (

BACKGROUND: Age-related changes to left ventricular (LV) early diastolic recoil confound the diagnostic value of e' velocity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Systolic-diastolic coupling quantifies passive left ventricular elastic recoil and may be superior to e' in differentiating abnormal diastolic recoil in HFpEF from healthy aging. This study aims to determine the effect of healthy aging and HFpEF on systolic-diastolic coupling. METHODS: Healthy adults (n = 141, aged 20-90 years) underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) to quantify LV filling pressure and tissue Doppler echocardiography to define peak velocities and excursion (velocity time integral) of the mitral annulus. Separately, HFpEF patients (n = 12, age 67 ± 5 years) and controls (n = 12, age 68 ± 5 years) underwent RHC and echocardiography. Systolic-diastolic coupling was measured as early diastolic excursion (EDexc ) divided by systolic excursion (Sexc ). RESULTS: In healthy adults, EDexc / Sexc declined by 15% per decade of life (r2 = 0.53, P

Acromegaly is associated with cardiovascular alterations. Up to 50% acromegalic patients suffered from treatment failure after multiple modalities. We investigated correlation between cardiovascular function and control of growth hormone (GH) in acromegalic patients following transsphenoidal adenomectomy (TSA).We recruited acromegalic patients who had undergone TSA between 2006 and 2014 in this cross-sectional study. Patients were assigned to group 1, controlled acromegaly (GH1.0 ng/mL and normalized insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]); group 2, partially controlled acromegaly (either GH1.0 ng/mL or non-normalized IGF-1); or group 3, uncontrolled acromegaly (GH1.0 ng/mL and non-normalized IGF-1). Echocardiography evaluated the left ventricular mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, and the early transmitral filling velocity (E)-to-late transmitral filling velocity (A) and the E-to-the early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E') ratios. Carotid tonometry evaluated the intima-media thickness of the carotid artery, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, aortic characteristic impedance (Zc), and pulse pressure amplification.Thirty-three patients participated in this study. Fourteen of the 33 patients were males (42%). Mean age at diagnosis was 50.33 years (SD 18.45). Compared to patients in group 1, patients in group 3 had younger age and shorter years after operation, without statistical significance. Cumulative GH levels were progressively higher from group 1 to group 3, without statistical significance. The groups did not differ with respect to cardiovascular structure and function evaluated by echocardiography and carotid tonometry. Only Zc value had a difference that was of borderline significance (group 1: 109.13 ± 32.99; group 2: 129.30 ± 32.27; group 3: 159.56 ± 77.4 dynes × s/cm5; ANOVA p = 0.088; p = 0.086 for group 1 vs group 3).In the patients with acromegaly who had undergone TSA, cardiac structure and vascular stiffness did not differ among the groups with different levels of GH control.

OBJECTIVE Identification of patients who are nonresponders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with the use of simple and objective parameters may be helpful in tailoring treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate whether E/(Ea × Sa) could be a predictor of CRT nonresponders (E = early diastolic transmitral velocity, Ea = early diastolic mitral annular velocity, Sa = systolic mitral annular velocity). METHODS In total, 53 heart failure patients were evaluated for this study, and 33 patients were included according to the study criteria. Before and 6 months after CRT-D(CRT with a defibrillator) implantation, E, Ea, and Sa were determined at the medial and lateral mitral annular sites, and the average values were obtained. E/(Ea × Sa) was calculated (medial, lateral, average). The patients were followed for 6 months to monitor their CRT response. A responder was defined as a patient with a reduction in end-systolic volume of ≥15% and an increase in 6-minute walking distance of 50 m. RESULTS At a 6-month follow-up, 24 (72.7%) of the 33 patients responded to CRT. At the 6-month follow-up, in the responder group, the E/Ea ratio, lateral mitral, and average E/(Ea × Sa) indices were significantly reduced (P

BACKGROUND We implemented sophisticated color M-mode analysis to assess age-dependent progression of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. METHODS Normal infants were prospectively enrolled for serial echocardiograms at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. From color M-mode scans, propagation velocity (VP), strength of filling (VS), and intraventricular pressure difference (IVPD) in 3 segments along apex-to-mitral valve scan line were measured. RESULTS Age-wise comparisons of diastolic filling from 121 echocardiograms in 31 infants showed VP (cm/s), VS (cm2/s), and E-wave IVPD (mmHg) at 1 week to be 66.2 ± 11.9, 75.3 ± 19.9, and 1.5 ± 0.4, respectively, while VP, VS, and E-wave IVPD at 1 month were 80.3 ± 14.4, 101.2 ± 28.3, and 2.42 ± 1.1, respectively. There were significant differences in VP and segmental IVPD between first week and first month (p

This study aimed to clarify the diagnostic and prognostic potential of strain rate in patients with suspected stable angina pectoris (SAP). Strain rate by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) has been suggested to be able to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD) and predict cardiovascular events in various patient groups. Prospectively enrolled patients (n = 296) with suspected SAP, no previous cardiac disease, and normal left ventricular ejection fraction were examined by 2DSTE, exercise ECG, and coronary angiography. Obstructive CAD was defined as stenosis ≥ 70% in ≥ 1 coronary artery on coronary angiography (n = 107). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. In multivariable analysis adjusted for baseline data, conventional echocardiography, and Duke score, early diastolic strain rate (SRe) was independently associated with significant CAD with a 1.35 increased risk of having CAD per 0.1 decrease in SRe (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.03-1.76, P = 0.027). Peak velocity of early diastolic filling (E)/SRe was not associated with significant CAD (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.81-1.62, P = 0.445). MACE occurred in 34 patients (12%) during follow-up (median 3.5 years) and both SRe (HR 1.26, 95% CI (1.07-1.49), P = 0.006) and E/SRe (HR 1.24, 95% CI (1.04-1.47), P = 0.017) were independent predictors after multivariable adjustment. In patients with suspected SAP, SRe by 2DSTE was independently associated with presence of CAD. In addition, SRe and E/SRe provided independent and incremental prognostic value for predicting future MACE.

The ratio of transmitral early filling velocity to early diastolic strain rate (E/eʹsr) has recently emerged as a novel and accurate non-invasive measure of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to give an overview of the possible clinical implications of E/eʹsr. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies involving E/eʹsr. Of 598 identified studies, 16 met our inclusion criteria. Studies involving E/eʹsr either investigated its prognostic value (n = 9) or its correlation with invasively measured LV filling pressure (n = 7). The pooled meta-analysis showed a significant correlation between E/eʹsr and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) measured invasively across the studies assessing this relationship (Cohen’s d = 3.90 95% CI [2.38–6.39], p

Background Automatic analyses of echocardiograms may support inexperienced users in quantifying left ventricular (LV) function. We have developed an algorithm for fully automatic measurements of mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) and mitral annular systolic (S′) and early diastolic (e′) peak velocities. We aimed to study the influence of user experience of automatic measurements of these indices in echocardiographic recordings acquired by medical students and clinicians. Methods We included 75 consecutive patients referred for echocardiography at a university hospital. The patients underwent echocardiography by clinicians (cardiologists, cardiology residents and sonographers), who obtained manual reference measurements of MAPSE by M-mode and of S′ and e′ by colour tissue Doppler imaging (cTDI). Immediately after, each patient was examined by 1 of 39 medical students who were instructed in image acquisition on the day of participation. Each student acquired cTDI recordings from 1 to 4 patients. All cTDI recordings by students and clinicians were analysed for MAPSE, S′ and e′ using a fully automatic algorithm. The automatic measurements were compared to the manual reference measurements. Results Correct tracking of the mitral annulus was feasible in 50 (67%) and 63 (84%) of the students’ and clinicians’ recordings, respectively (p = 0.007). Image quality was highest in the clinicians’ recordings. Mean difference ± standard deviation of the automatic measurements of the students’ recordings compared to the manual reference was − 0.0 ± 2.0 mm for MAPSE, 0.3 ± 1.1 cm/s for S′ and 0.6 ± 1.4 cm/s for e′. The corresponding intraclass correlation coefficients for MAPSE, S′ and e′ were 0.85 (good), 0.89 (good) and 0.92 (excellent), respectively. Automatic measurements from the students’ and clinicians’ recordings were in similar agreement with the reference when mitral annular tracking was correct. Conclusions In case of correct tracking of the mitral annulus, the agreement with reference for the automatic measurements was overall good. Low image quality reduced feasibility. Adequate image acquisition is essential for automatic analyses of LV function indices, and thus, appropriate education of the operators is mandatory. Automatic measurements may help inexperienced users of ultrasound, but do not remove the need for dedicated education and training.

Objective Prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are associated with poorly understood abnormalities of ventricular function. We therefore comprehensively compared biventricular function in infants with and without BPD. Methods Prospective observational study in extremely preterm infants with (n = 20) and without (n = 38) BPD using conventional and advanced echocardiography at 28 days (T1) and near-term (T2). Results Infants with BPD had lower birth gestational age (26.7±1.9 vs 27.4±1.1 weeks, p = 0.047) and weight (884±207 vs 1108±190 g, p = 0.0001). BPD was associated with larger right ventricles (RV) and reduced RV systolic strain rate at T1 and pulmonary hypertensive indicators at T2 (pulmonary artery acceleration time BPD 51±17 vs no BPD 63±12 ms, p = 0.017). At T1/T2, infants with BPD had lower RV tissue Doppler velocities (e', a' and s) and higher E/e' ratios (T1: BPD 10.4±2.4 vs no BPD 6.2±3.1 cm/sec, p = 0.001; T2: BPD 8.0±3.1 vs no BPD 5.6±2.6 cm/sec, p = 0.02), altered LV diastolic function (apical circumferential T1 early diastolic strain rate BPD 2.8±0.8 vs no BPD 3.6±1.0 /sec, p = 0.04; T2 late diastolic strain rate, BPD 2.29 ± 0.99 vs no BPD 1.67±0.84 /sec, p = 0.03) and LV rotational mechanics (T1: twist rate BPD 90±16 vs no BPD 130±48 deg/sec, p = 0.008; untwist rate (UTR) BPD -69±90 vs no BPD -147±68 deg/sec, p = 0.008; torsion BPD 2.78±0.56 vs no BPD 4.48±1.74 deg/cm, p = 0.009; and T2: UTR BPD -132±69 vs no BPD -179±57 deg/sec, p = 0.013). Conclusion BPD is associated with altered RV diastolic function that persists near term, with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, and with persistent alterations in LV apical strain rate and rotational mechanics.

PURPOSE We explored the potential of tissue velocity imaging (TVI) for prognosis of nonischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (LVD). METHODS We reviewed 138 nonischemic LVD patients (58 ± 14 years) who underwent both cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and echocardiography. Septal and lateral mitral annular TVI data were compared with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on CMR. During a mean follow-up of 24 months, recovery (>15%) of LV ejection fraction and clinical outcomes (cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization) were assessed. RESULTS LGE was commonly observed in the basal anteroseptal, inferoseptal, and inferior segments, but infrequently observed in the anterolateral segment. LGE was associated with lower early diastolic, septal (Sep-e' = 5.2 ± 2.0 vs 6.9 ± 2.0 cm/s, P = .031) and lateral (Lat-e' = 7.3 ± 3.0 vs 9.5 ± 2.0 cm/s, P

Objectives The available literature lacks data on the comparison of the functions of the right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA) between surgical atrial septal defect (ASD) closure and percutaneous device ASD closure at follow-up durations of longer than 1 year. We sought to evaluate the RA and LA functions in patients who underwent surgical or device ASD closure between 1 and 5 years postprocedurally. Methods The study population included 30 patients who underwent device ASD closure and 30 who underwent surgical ASD closure, who were matched for the procedural time, age, and sex, in addition to 30 control participants. The RA and LA functions were evaluated with 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. Results The LA systolic and early diastolic strain and strain rate values and the RA early diastolic strain rate in the device closure group were more likely to be abnormal than in the control group. The RA systolic and late diastolic strain and strain rate values, the RA early diastolic strain rate, and the LA early diastolic strain in the surgical closure group were more likely to be abnormal than in the control group. The RA systolic strain and strain rate in the surgical closure group were more likely to be abnormal than in the device closure group. Conclusions The LA reservoir and conduit functions and the RA contraction function in the patients who underwent device ASD closure and all of the RA functions and the LA conduit function in the patients who underwent surgical ASD closure were more likely to be abnormal than those in the control participants. The RA reservoir function in the surgical closure group was more likely to be abnormal than that in the device closure group.

Background Assessing diastolic dysfunction is essential and should be part of every routine echocardiography examination. However, clinicians routinely observe lower mitral annular velocities by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) under anesthesia than described by awake transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). It would be important to know whether this difference persists under constant loading conditions. We hypothesized that mean early diastolic mitral annular velocity, measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI, JOURNAL/asag/04.03/00000539-202105000-00029/inline-graphic1/v/2021-04-15T211206Z/r/image-tiff) would be different in the midesophageal 4-chamber (ME 4Ch) than in the apical 4-chamber (AP 4Ch) view under unchanged or constant loading conditions. Secondarily we examined (1) JOURNAL/asag/04.03/00000539-202105000-00029/inline-graphic2/v/2021-04-15T211206Z/r/image-tiff in an alternative transesophageal view with presumed superior Doppler beam alignment, the deep transgastric view (DTG), compared to those in the AP 4Ch, and (2) early diastolic speckle tracking-based strain rate (JOURNAL/asag/04.03/00000539-202105000-00029/inline-graphic3/v/2021-04-15T211206Z/r/image-tiff), in the ME 4Ch and in the AP 4Ch. Methods Twenty-five consecutive adult patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery from February 2017 to July 2017 were included. Both TTE and TEE measurements were obtained under anesthesia in a randomized order in the AP 4Ch, ME 4Ch, and DTG views. Within-patient average values were compared by paired t tests with a Bonferroni adjustment. Box plots, correlation, and agreement by Bland-Altman were examined for all 3 comparisons. A second echocardiographer independently acquired and analyzed images; images were reanalyzed after 4 weeks. Image quality and reproducibility were also reported. Results Averaged JOURNAL/asag/04.03/00000539-202105000-00029/inline-graphic4/v/2021-04-15T211206Z/r/image-tiff measurements were lower in the ME 4Ch than in the AP 4Ch (6.6 ± 1.7 cm/s vs 7.0 ± 1.5 cm, P = .028; within-patient difference mean ± standard deviation: 0.6 ± 1.2 cm/s). An alternative TEE view for JOURNAL/asag/04.03/00000539-202105000-00029/inline-graphic5/v/2021-04-15T211206Z/r/image-tiff, the DTG, also exhibited lower mean values (6.0 ± 1.6 cm/s, P = .006; within-patient difference mean ± standard deviation: 1.1 ± 1.8 cm/s). JOURNAL/asag/04.03/00000539-202105000-00029/inline-graphic6/v/2021-04-15T211206Z/r/image-tiff strain rate showed a low degree of bias, but greater variability (ME 4Ch: 0.87 ± 0.32%/s vs AP 4Ch: 0.73 ± 0.18%/s, P = .078; within-patient difference mean ± standard deviation: -0.1 ± 0.2%/s). Conclusions This study confirms that TEE modestly underestimates JOURNAL/asag/04.03/00000539-202105000-00029/inline-graphic7/v/2021-04-15T211206Z/r/image-tiff but not to a clinically relevant extent. While JOURNAL/asag/04.03/00000539-202105000-00029/inline-graphic8/v/2021-04-15T211206Z/r/image-tiff in the DTG is not a promising alternative, the future role for speckle tracking-based early diastolic strain rate is unknown.

Background There is a lack of comprehensive echocardiographic data to allow discrimination of normal versus abnormal mechanical prosthetic tricuspid valve (MPTV) leaflet function. The identification of such parameters is essential to optimize diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Methods The authors investigated bileaflet MPTV function by comparing transthoracic echocardiographic data from 21 episodes of leaflet dysfunction due to valve thrombosis in 12 patients with data from 56 individuals with normal MPTV function. All episodes of dysfunction were confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography and/or cine fluoroscopy. Transthoracic echocardiography–derived two-dimensional, color, and spectral Doppler variables, including MPTV peak early diastolic velocity (E velocity), mean gradient, pressure half-time, time-velocity integral (TVI) of the MPTV, ratio of TVIMPTV to TVI of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and TVI of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), and continuity-derived effective orifice area, were measured in both groups. Results Most episodes of MPTV dysfunction resulted from simultaneous involvement of both leaflets (57%), with leaflet(s) often immobilized in the open or semiopen position (71%). Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography performed similarly in detecting abnormal leaflet motion (90% vs 88%, P = .68), whereas transesophageal echocardiography was better in identifying MPTV thrombosis (31% vs 14%, respectively, P = .01). Color Doppler demonstrated flow propagation abnormalities in 67% of episodes of leaflet dysfunction but not in the control group (P 1.6 m/sec, mean gradient > 5 mm Hg, PHT > 157 msec, TVIMPTV > 42 cm, TVIMPTV/TVILVOT > 2.3, TVIMPTV/TVIRVOT > 3.0, and continuity-derived effective orifice area ≤ 1.1 cm2, with most variables showing high and similar accuracy (area under the curve ≥ 95%). Conclusions This study represents the first comprehensive echocardiographic assessment of MPTV leaflet dysfunction that provides parameters and criteria to distinguish normal versus abnormal prosthetic valve function.

BACKGROUND: The ratio of transmitral early filling velocity to early diastolic strain rate (E/e'sr) may be a more accurate measure of LV filling pressure then ratio of early filling pressure to early tissue velocity. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of age, sex, obesity, smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, physical activity level, socioeconomic, and psychosocial status on E/e'sr over a decade. Additionally, the predictive value of ΔE/e'sr on future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) has never been explored.METHOD: The study included 623 participants from the general population, who participated in the 4th and 5th Copenhagen City Heart Study (CCHS4 and CCHS5). Examinations were median 10 years apart. MACE was the composite endpoint of heart failure, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death.RESULTS: Follow-up time was median 5.7 years, and 43 (7%) experienced MACE. Mean age was 51 ± 14 years, and 43% were male. Mean ΔE/e'sr was 2.1 ± 23.0 cm. After multivariable adjustment for demographic, clinical, and biochemistry variables, high age (stand. β-coef. = .24, P < .001) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) (stand. β-coef. = .17, P < .001) were significantly associated with an accelerated increase in E/e'sr In multivariable Cox regression, E/e'sr at CCHS5 and ΔE/e'sr were independent predictors of MACE (HR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.01; 1.42] per 10 cm increase for both). ΔE/e'sr did only provide incremental prognostic value to change in left atrial volume index of the conventional diastolic measurements.CONCLUSION: In the general population, age and MAP were predictors of an accelerated increase in E/e'sr over a decade. E/e'sr at CCHS5 and ΔE/e'sr were independent predictors of future MACE.

The present study investigated the relationship between arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function in endurance-trained athletes. Sixteen young male endurance-trained athletes and nine sedentary of similar age men participated in this study. Resting measures in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were obtained to assess arterial stiffness. Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed using 2-dimensional echocardiography. The athletes tended to have lower arterial stiffness than the controls (P=0.071). Transmitral A-waves in the athletes were significantly lower (P=0.018) than the controls, and left ventricular mass (P=0.034), transmitral E-wave/A-wave (P=0.005) and peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity at the septal site (P=0.005) in the athletes were significantly greater than the controls. A significant correlation was found between arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function (E-wave: r=− 0.682, P=0.003, E-wave/A-wave: r=− 0.712, P=0.002, peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity at the septal site: r=− 0.557, P=0.025) in the athletes, whereas no correlation was found in controls. These results suggest that lower arterial stiffness is associated with higher left ventricular diastolic function in endurance-trained athletes.

Background: The assessment of the longitudinal component of left ventricular (LV) function is of major clinical importance for the early detection of LV contractile impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of uncontrolled hypertension, on LV longitudinal systolic performance. Methods: The study population included 400 hypertensive patients: 271 patients with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) and 112 without controlled BP, all patients underwent a complete ultrasound evaluation with the calculation of the LV mass, evaluation of diastolic function as well as longitudinal systolic function. Results: Conventional echo demonstrated that uncontrolled patients had increased LV mass (P 0.007), LA (left auricular) dimension (P 0.004), left ventricular wall thickness and impairment of diastolic function (E/E’6 ± 2.1 vs 7.4 ±3.0 P=0.001) while no affection of systolic function could be detected. By deformation imaging, there was a reduction in longitudinal strain (apical 4 view -16.2 ±2.9 vs -18.2± 2.6 P 0.02, apical 3 view -17.3 ± 3.3 vs. -18.9 ± 4.1 P 0.01). Similarly, systolic strain rate (SRsys) and early diastolic SR (SRe) reduced significantly in longitudinal direction. Conclusion: Although EF was not different between uncontrolled patients and controls, LV longitudinal strain and strain rate by 2D speckle tracking were lower in the uncontrolled group.

Several studies have reported a correlation between right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). However, data are lacking regarding the relationship between RV and LV diastolic dysfunction assessed by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. We studied 69 adults with repaired TOF (mean age 34 years, 61% male) who had been regularly followed up and had routinely undergone echocardiography. In addition to conventional echocardiography, global longitudinal strain (GLS) and early diastolic strain rate (SRe) of both ventricles were assessed using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. Results were compared with 30 age- and sex-matched controls. RV and LV GLS were decreased in TOF patients compared with controls (− 18.4 ± 3.3% vs. −23.5 ± 4.2%, p − 1 vs. 1.47 ± 0.41 sec− 1, p = 0.003 and 1.29 ± 0.42 sec− 1 vs. 1.63 ± 0.42 sec− 1, p

Introduction The present study was designed to define normal reference values of three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE)-derived left atrial (LA) volumes, stroke volumes (SVs), and emptying fractions (EFs) with regard to the cardiac cycle. Methods The present study involved 256 healthy adult subjects in sinus rhythm who underwent complete two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and 3DSTE at the same time. However, due to inferior image quality, 87 subjects have been excluded. The remaining population sample comprised of 169 patients who gave informed consent to participate in the study. Results While systolic maximum LA volume and early diastolic preatrial contraction LA volume did not change over age decades, late-diastolic minimum LA volume decreased and was lowest in subjects aged 40 to 49 years then increased after 50 years. Total atrial EF increased over age decades with a reduction after 50 years. Passive atrial EF showed a significant continuous increase over age decades. Active atrial EF did not change in younger ages and was the highest between ages 40 and 49 years with a significant impairment after 50 years. Conclusions This study shows the age- and gender-dependency of normal values of 3DSTE-derived LA volumes, stroke volumes, and emptying fractions with regard to the cardiac cycle in healthy adult subjects.

Objectives: To establish Z-score models for early diastolic blood flow widths of mitral and tricuspid valves in normal fetuses and compare Z-scores and other blood flow dynamic parameters between n...

Assessment of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is vital in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). The early diastolic intraventricular pressure gradient (IVPG) in the LV plays an important role in diastolic function. IVPG is calculated as the intraventricular pressure difference divided by the LV length, which allows to account for differences in LV size and therefore calculate IVPG in children. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of LV diastolic dysfunction by measuring mid-to-apical IVPG as an indicator of the active suction force sucking blood from the left atrium into the LV. We included 38 rTOF patients and 101 healthy controls. The study population was stratified based on age group into children (4–9 years), adolescents (10–15 years), and adults (16–40 years). IVPGs were calculated based on mitral inflow measurements obtained using color M-mode Doppler echocardiography. Although total IVPGs did not differ between rTOF patients and controls, mid-to-apical IVPGs in adolescents and adults were smaller among rTOF patients than among controls (0.15 ± 0.05 vs. 0.21 ± 0.06 mmHg/cm, p

Suboptimal blood pressure (BP) control is commonly observed in patients receiving antihypertensive agents, but the relationship between uncontrolled BP and left atrial (LA) impairment remains unknown.This study enrolled 279 hypertensive patients who had been medicated, as well as 85 matched normal controls. The BP of systolic140 mmHg and diastolic90 mmHg was defined as optimal (HT1 group, n=146), otherwise as suboptimal BP control (HT2 group, n = 133). LA myocardial function was assessed by the systolic (SBoth the HT1 group and HT2 group had higher BP reading, thicker interventricular septum, larger LA volume index, and enhanced active atrial emptying fraction than the control group (all0.05). When compared with normal subjects, hypertensive patients displayed obvious reduction in the SSuboptimal BP control status in hypertensive patients is related to a further reduction of LA myocardial function assessed by the novel 2DSTI free strain, and suboptimal BP might be regarded as a composite risk factor and therefore a simplified treatment target. However, the prognostic value of LA free strain in patients with inability to achieve the BP target needs to be evaluated in future prospective studies.

This study assessed the extent of fibrosis and the relationship between the ADC value and systolic strain in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (HTN LVH) and hypertensive patients without LVH (HTN non-LVH) using cardiac diffusion-weighted imaging and T1 mapping. T1 mapping was performed in 13 HTN LVH (mean age, 56.23 ± 3.30 years), 17 HTN non-LVH (mean age, 56.41 ± 2.78 years), and 12 normal control subjects (mean age, 55.67 ± 3.08 years) with 3.0 T MRI using cardiac diffusion-weighted imaging and T1 mapping. HTN LVH subjects had higher native T1 (1233.12 ± 79.01) compared with controls (1133.88 ± 27.40) (p 2 = 0.210). Increased levels of ADC were associated with reduced peak systolic and early diastolic circumferential strain rates across all subjects. Contrast-free DW-CMR is an alternative sequence to ECV for the evaluation of fibrosis extent in HTN LVH and HTN non-LVH, while native T1 has limited value.

A healthy 19-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to an elongated left heart border on chest radiograph. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a posteriorly deviated left ventricular apex, increased right ventricular dimension, and hypokinesis of the interventricular septum. Pulsed Doppler echocardiogram revealed a triphasic mitral inflow pattern. Myocardial longitudinal strain rate imaging revealed that the early diastolic strain rate abruptly decreased to a negative value and then became positive at the left ventricular apex. In this case of an absent pericardium, the triphasic mitral inflow pattern might have been caused by an early diastolic shortening and subsequent elongation at the apex.

Background and objectives This study aimed to assess right ventricular (RV) diastolic dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) using velocity vector imaging (VVI) and to evaluate the application of VVI technology. Methods According to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), 69 patients with OSAS were divided into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe. A total of 35 cases of healthy subjects were enrolled as the control group. Digital images of apex four-chamber views were acquired to measure the peak early diastolic strain rate (RV-SRe), late diastolic strain rate(RV-SRa), and RV-SRe/RV-SRa using VVI. Results RV-SRe, RV-Sra, and RV-SRe/RV-SRa were decreasing along with the disease severity. RV-SRe, RV-SRe/RV-SRa in moderate and severe OSAS group showed lower than control and mild OSAS groups. RV-SRa in severe OSAS group showed lower than control group. RV-SRe had the best correlation with AHI than other parameters. Conclusions Right ventricular diastolic dysfunction starts before the development of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension in patients with OSAS. RV-SRe was the parameter that may reflect subclinical myocardial dysfunction and can better reflect RV diastolic dysfunction.

The aim of the study described here was to investigate, using 2-D speckle-tracking echocardiography, whether myocardial infarction (MI) leads to diminished left atrial function in diabetic patients by comparison with non-diabetic patients. A total of 310 consecutive patients were divided into four groups based on the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and acute ST-elevation MI. In the adjusted analysis, systolic and early diastolic strain and strain rate were reduced in the diabetic patients. Additionally, all deformation markers were impaired in the patients with MI. The DM-MI interaction was not statistically significant. Although reservoir, conduit and contraction functions of the left atrium were reduced in the patients with MI, left atrial reservoir and conduit functions were decreased in the diabetic patients. The reduction in left atrial function caused by MI was similar for diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Thus, DM and MI additively damaged left atrial function.

BACKGROUND Estimation of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) is the essential part of the echocardiographic workup for exercise intolerance. The ratio of the mitral early filling velocity to the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (E/LVGLS) has emerged as a novel index of LVFP. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between E/LVGLS and exercise capacity. METHODS AND RESULTS We retrospectively reviewed 90 patients with exertional dyspnea who underwent echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test. Patients were classified into three groups according to their percent-predicted maximal oxygen consumption (ppVo2 ) (G ≧ 75, ppVo2 > 75%, n = 20; G 50-75, ppVo2 75-50%, n = 57; G

Background The differentiation between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and systolic dysfunction caused by coronary artery disease (CAD) based on clinical and echocardiographic presentation can be difficult in some cases. Aim Our study aimed to define differences in myocardial function between patients with ischemic and nonischemic etiology of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Material and methods We retrospectively analyzed 90 patients (mean age 65 ± 11 years, 70% male) with de novo diagnosed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (≤45% as determined by the transthoracic echocardiography), who were referred for coronary angiography to determine the presence of significant CAD. On the basis of coronary angiography results, patients were divided into two subgroups as follows: 45 subjects with significant CAD (group A) and 45 subjects without CAD (group B). Acquired transthoracic echocardiographic images were assessed off-line using 2DSTE. In each patient, we calculated arithmetic mean, median value, and standard deviation of regional longitudinal strain and strain rate of 18 left ventricular segments. Results Standard deviation of the regional peak early diastolic strain rate was significantly higher in group A than in group B (P = 0.01). The cutoff value with the highest diagnostic value was >0.37/s-its sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CAD were 73% and 53%, respectively. The remaining parameters did not differ significantly between the study groups. Conclusions Patients with systolic dysfunction resulting from CAD have significantly more heterogeneous regional longitudinal early diastolic strain rate assessed by 2DSTE than patients with DCM.

It has been reported that carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) correlates with the risk of stroke or cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between echocardiographic findings and carotid atherosclerosis. A total of 234 patients (62 ± 15 years) were referred for echocardiography to evaluate the left ventricular (LV) function. The LV ejection fraction, the ratio of the peak velocity of early rapid filling and the peak velocity of atrial filling (E/A), and the peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e′) were obtained by echocardiography. The maximum IMT (Max-IMT) and plaque score (PS) were measured by carotid ultrasonography within 1 month of the echocardiographic examination. The mean values of Max-IMT and carotid PS were 2.41 ± 1.23 mm and 8.5 ± 6.3, respectively. The decreased mean E/A (0.94 ± 0.39) and mitral e′ (5.5 ± 1.9 cm/s) indicated LV diastolic dysfunction. A good correlation was observed between Max-IMT and PS (r = 0.83, p

Introduction. Cardiac involvement of myasthenia gravis (MG) accompanies a poor prognosis. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between ECG abnormality and cardiac involvement.Methods. Of 178 patients diagnosed with MG between 2001 and 2013 at our hospital, we retrospectively analyzed consecutive 58 patients who underwent both ECG and echocardiography and without underlying cardiovascular disease. ECG abnormalities were defined by computer-assigned Minnesota-codes. Cardiac damage was defined as either (1) ejection fraction (EF) E/e′, the ratio of mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus >8 on echocardiography.Results. Thirty-three patients (56.8%) had ECG abnormality. An elevatedE/e′was observed in patients with ECG abnormality compared to those without ECG abnormality (11.2±3.2,8.7±2.2, resp.,p=0.03). Among patients with ECG abnormality, 14 of 15 patients showed cardiac damage. Among patients without ECG abnormality, 6 of 33 patients showed cardiac damage (p=0.003). Reduced EF was observed in five patients (8.6%) with ECG abnormality and none in patients without ECG abnormality.Conclusions. ECG may aid as the first step for the further examination of cardiac damage in patients with MG.

BackgroundThe peak velocity of early diastolic mitral annular motion (e`) is believed to provide sensitive detection of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but other aspects of LV long-axis function in HCM have received less attention. Systolic mitral annular excursion (SExc) is also reduced in HCM and must be an intrinsic limitation to the extent of the subsequent motion during diastole. However, the effects of HCM on excursion during early diastole (EDExc) and atrial contraction (AExc), the duration of early diastolic motion (EDDur), and the relationships of EDExc with SExc, and of e`with EDExc and EDDur, are all unknown.MethodsThe study group was 22 subjects with HCM and there were 22 age and sex matched control subjects. SExc, EDExc, e`, AExc and EDDur were measured from pulsed wave tissue Doppler signals acquired from the septal and lateral walls. In the combined group of HCM and control subjects, multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of EDExc and e`for both LV walls.ResultsSExc, EDExc and e`were all lower, and EDDur was longer in the HCM group compared to the control group for both LV walls (pConclusionIn HCM, the decrease in LV longitudinal contraction is the major mechanism accounting for a lower EDExc, the lower e`is accounted for by contributions from the lower EDExc and prolongation of early diastolic motion, and there is no atrial compensation for the reduction of long-axis contraction.

The aim of this exploratory study was to define the Athletes Heart (AH) phenotype in Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (NH&PI) Rugby Football League (RFL) athletes. Specifically, (1) to describe conventional echocardiographic indices of left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) structure and function in NH&PI RFL players and matched RFL Caucasian controls (CC) and (2) to demonstrate LV and RV mechanics in these populations. Ethnicity is a contributory factor to the phenotypical expression of the AH. There are no data describing the cardiac phenotype in NH&PI athletes. Twenty-one male elite NH&PI RFL athletes were evaluated using conventional echocardiography and myocardial speckle tracking, allowing the assessment of global longitudinal strain (ε) and strain rate (SR); and basal, mid and global radial and circumferential ε and SR. Basal and apical rotation and twist were also assessed. Results were compared with age-matched Caucasian counterparts (CC; n = 21). LV mass [42 ± 9 versus 37 ± 4 g/(m2.7)], mean LV wall thickness (MWT: 9.5 ± 0.7 and 8.7 ± 0.4 mm), relative wall thickness (RWT: 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.31 ± 0.03) and RV wall thickness (5 ± 1 and 4 ± 1 mm, all p

Objective To evaluate the impact of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels on cardiac function in small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Study Design This is a prospective, observational study. Serum IGF-1 levels at birth and echocardiography measurements at 1 week of age were compared between SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Results Thirty-one SGA infants and 27 AGA infants were enrolled. Serum IGF-1 levels were lower in the SGA infants than in the AGA infants. SGA infants had lower mitral lateral annular systolic (S') and early diastolic (E') tissue Doppler imaging velocities compared with AGA infants (S', 5.1 ± 0.9 vs 5.7 ± 1.2 cm/s; E', 6.1 ± 1.5 cm/s vs 7.1 ± 1.3 cm/s; p Conclusion Decreased serum IGF-I levels could account for cardiac diastolic dysfunction in SGA infants.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) functional reserves are altered in anthracycline-treated long-term survivors of childhood cancers.One hundred three survivors (55% men) aged 25.0 ± 5.8 years at 15.2 ± 5.8 years after chemotherapy and 61 healthy control subjects (52% men) were studied. Tissue Doppler-derived mitral and tricuspid systolic (s) and early diastolic (e) velocities and LV myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVA) were determined at rest and during bicycle exercise. The slope of the LV force-frequency relationship was derived from changes in IVA with heart rate during exercise (ΔIVA/Δ[heart rate]). LV and RV functional reserves were further assessed by the systolic functional reserve index (Δs × [1 - 1/s at baseline]) and diastolic functional reserve index (Δe × [1 - 1/e at baseline]).At baseline, mitral annular tissue Doppler indices were similar between survivors and control subjects (P .05 for all), while tricuspid s and e velocities were significantly lower in survivors (P .05 for both). The force-frequency relationship slope (P .001), LV systolic functional reserve index (P .001), and RV systolic functional reserve index (P = .001) were significantly lower in survivors than control subjects. For diastolic functional reserve, LV but not RV diastolic functional reserve index was significantly lower in survivors (P .001). Multivariate analysis revealed survivor status (β = -0.39, P .001) and baseline LV IVA (β = 0.15, P .044) as significant determinants of the LV force-frequency relationship.LV and RV functional reserves during exercise are impaired in anthracycline-treated long-term survivors of childhood cancer.

To test if diastolic dysfunction measured on day one of age is associated with the need for invasive ventilation in preterm infants. We conducted a retrospective observational tissue Doppler echocardiographic study over the first 12 h of age for infants born

Tissue Doppler velocity during early diastole (e’) is one of the most feasible and reproducible echocardiographic assessments to reflect active relaxation of the left ventricle. Although several reports have described the mechanisms of temporal diastolic dysfunction in the early neonatal period, factors influencing diastolic function have not been determined. The purpose of this study was to elucidate factors significantly influencing e’ in the early neonatal period. A total of 179 consecutive normal neonates underwent echocardiographic studies performed at 0 days and 5-10 days after birth. The statistical relationships between e’ and age, body weight, mean blood pressure, heart rate, shortening fraction of the left ventricle, peak systolic motion velocity (s’), early diastolic transmitral flow velocity over annulus velocity, Tei index, and diastolic wall strain (DWS) were analyzed. Between the 0 days and 5-10-days-after birth groups, significant differences were shown in mean blood pressure, shortening fraction of left ventricle, e’, and Tei index. Age, body weight, mean blood pressure, s’, and DWS showed significant correlations with e’. In multivariate regression analysis within these parameters, s’ (β = 0.6119, P < 0.0001) and DWS (β = 0.1216, P = 0.0321) showed positive correlations with e’. Longitudinal systolic motion velocity and ventricular wall stiffness of the left ventricle influence diastolic relaxation in normal neonates. Age, body weight, and circumferential systolic function are not significant factors.

AIM We aim to determine normative reference data of phasic right atrial (RA) strain and to investigate determinants, possible clinical implications as well as feasibility and reproducibility of RA strain analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS Right atrial strain was analyzed in 266 participants of the cross-sectional Berlin Female Risk Evaluation (BEFRI) study using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D STE). To determine reference values, phasic RA strain was determined in a subgroup of 123 individuals without known cardiovascular diseases or risk factors. Mean RA reservoir strain (RAS), RA conduit, and contraction strain in this reference group were 44.9 ± 11.6%, 27.1 ± 9.5%, and 17.0 ± 5.9%, respectively. Regarding possible clinical implications, RAS was significantly reduced in women with a BMI ≥ 25, compared with women with a BMI

Exercise disrupts the interaction between the left ventricle and the vasculature, as measured by wave intensity (WI) analysis. However, the effect of exercise-induced heat stress on WI amplitude is unknown. WI measures are calibrated using brachial or carotid artery blood pressure, but the influence of calibration method on WI outcomes is unknown. (1) To compare WI analysis during low and moderate exercise-induced heat stress; (2) to examine differences in carotid WI analysis based on calibration method. Eleven healthy, young men (22 ± 3 years) performed intermittent exercise in moderate- and low-heat stress conditions. WI was assessed pre- and post-exercise on the right carotid artery, and calibrated with brachial and carotid blood pressures. A main effect of time was found for W1 when calibrated by brachial, but not carotid pressure. A time-by-condition interaction was observed for late systolic/early diastolic function (W2) in both brachial (p = 0.047) and carotid calibration methods (p = 0.042), where W2 increased following exercise-induced moderate-heat stress but decreased following low-heat stress. The elastic modulus exhibited a significant time-by-condition interaction (brachial p = 0.039; carotid p = 0.044), increasing following moderate-heat stress but decreasing following low-heat stress. Calibrations using carotid blood pressure significantly reduced WI amplitudes compared with brachial calibrations (p

Background: Hypertension and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)may independently contribute to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. However, scanty data is available on this issue in hypertensives withmild.moderate OSA. Methods and results:Weperformed polysomnography, echocardiography and 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in 115 treated essential hypertensives with suspicion of OSA. After exclusion of severe/treated OSA and/or cardiovascular disease patients, mild.moderate OSA (5 ≥ apnoea/hypopnoea index b 30 events·h-1) was diagnosed in 47.3% of the remaining 91 patients, while 52.7% were free of OSA. Transmitral early (E) and late (A) peak flow velocities were assessed in 69 patients, and mitral annular velocity (E′) in 53. Compared to non- OSA, mild.moderate OSA heart rate was higher (p =0.031) while E/A was lower (p = 0.001) without differences in 24 h mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures (125.36 ± 12.46/76.46 ± 6.97 vs 128.63 ± 11.50/77.70 ± 7.72 mm Hg, respectively, NS). Patients with E′ > 10 cm/s and E/A > 0.8 showed a lower mean SpO2 than subjects with normal diastolic function (p = 0.004; p > 0.001). In a logistic regression model age, mean SpO2, daytime heart rate and nocturnal diastolic blood pressure fall were associated with altered relaxation pattern, independently from BMI and gender. Conclusions: In controlled hypertensives mild.moderate OSA may be associated with early diastolic dysfunction, independently from age, gender andmean blood pressure and in the absence of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Moreover nocturnal hypoxia may be a key factor in determining early diastolic dysfunction, under the synergic effects of hypertension and mild.moderate OSA.

The aim of this study was to use transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic (TTE) imaging methods to identify cardiac dysfunction, an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in terms of cardiac effects. This study involved 80 patients: a study group ( n = 50) and control group ( n = 30). They were categorized into four subgroups: anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) (+) ( n = 14) and aCL (−) ( n = 36); systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) ≥ 6 ( n = 15) and SLEDAI 5 years group compared with the disease period

OBJECTIVES We investigated the impact of inodilators on the accuracy of E/e' ratio as a surrogate for pulmonary artery occlusion pressure in patients with decompensated end-stage systolic heart failure. SETTING The ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity to tissue Doppler mitral annular early diastolic velocity, E/e', and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure have been shown to be correlated. The validity of E/e' for predicting pulmonary artery occlusion pressure in patients with decompensated end-stage systolic heart failure was recently challenged, but the influence of inodilators was not taken into account, despite the reported influence of these drugs on left ventricular relaxation properties. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION Invasive hemodynamic monitoring and echocardiographic data were collected prospectively from 39 patients with decompensated end-stage systolic heart failure (92% male), aged 56 ± 13 years. These patients had dilated ventricles with a low cardiac index (1.9 ± 0.6 L/min/m) and high pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (22 ± 8 mm Hg), and 90% required inodilator support during hospitalization. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The correlation between septal E/e' and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure was good for examinations in the absence of inodilators (n = 21) (r = 0.7; p < 0.001), but no correlation was found when inodilators were used (n = 31). Lateral and mean E/e' were poorly correlated with pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, if at all, in both cases. CONCLUSIONS By modifying ventricular relaxation properties and the influence of filling pressure on e', inodilator agents severely impair the correlation between E/e' and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure in patients with decompensated end-stage systolic heart failure.

Prior myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with increased mortality and is prevalent in certain high risk patient groups. Electrocardiogram may be used in diagnosis, however, sensitivity is limited, thus non-invasive imaging techniques may improve diagnosis. We investigated whether global longitudinal strain (GLS) and longitudinal strain parameters are reduced in patients with prior MI but preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The study included 40 clinical patients with prior MI occurring >3 months previously (defined as subendocardial hyperenhancement on late Gadolinium enhancement imaging) with LVEF ≥ 55% and 40 controls matched for age and LVEF. GLS, global longitudinal strain rate (GLSR) and early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (GLSRe) were measured from cine imaging feature tracking analysis. Presence of wall motion abnormality (WMA) and minimum systolic wall thickening (SWT) were calculated from cine imaging. GLS was −17.3 ± 3.7% in prior MI versus −19.3 ± 1.9% in controls (p = 0.012). GLSR was −88.0 ± 33.7%/s in prior MI versus −103.3 ± 26.5%/s in controls (p = 0.005). GLSRe was 76.4 ± 28.4%/s in prior MI versus 95.5 ± 26.0%/s in controls (p = 0.001). GLS accurately identified prior MI [AUC 0.662 (95% CI 0.54–0.785) p = 0.012] whereas WMA [AUC 0.500 (95% CI 0.386–0.614) p = 1.0] and minimum SWT [AUC 0.609 (95% CI 0.483–0.735) p = 0.093] did not. GLS, GLSR and GLSRe are reduced in prior MI with preserved LVEF. Normal LVEF and lack of WMA cannot exclude prior MI. Prior MI should be considered when reduced GLS, GLSR or GLSRe are detected by non-invasive imaging.

The Eighth Joint National Committee Panel (JNC8) recommended a novel blood pressure (BP) goal for individuals with hypertension, which was less stringent than the Seventh Joint National Committee (JNC7) guideline and is still under debate. In our study, we aimed at finding a better BP goal for the elderly Chinese.About 1599 community-based elderly participants were recruited in the northern Shanghai and were classified by chronic kidney disease or diabetes mellitus to investigate their BP control conditions based on both the JNC7 and JNC8. Then, participants were categorized into four groups: normotensive individuals (Group 1), individuals at BP goal by JNC7 (Group 2), individuals at BP goal by JNC8 but not by JNC7 (Group 3), and individuals not at-goal by both guidelines (Group 4). Patients' hypertensive target organ damages as left ventricular mass index (LVMI), peak transmitral pulsed Doppler velocity/early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity (E/Ea), pulse wave velocity (PWV), etc. were evaluated.According to the JNC8, 19.0% of the population were reclassified as at-goal. Group 4 had significantly greater LVMI than Group 2 (96.5 vs 91.5 g/mIn the community-based elderly Chinese, the JNC8 hypertension guideline may set a better BP goal than the JNC7 in identifying patients' left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and arterial stiffening.

Introduction Hiatal hernia (HH) can cause left atrial (LA) compression and impair LA filling. We evaluated the cardiac effects of preload reduction and abdominal strain induced by Valsalva maneuver (VM) in large HH patients. Methods LA and left ventricular (LV) dimensions were measured using 2D transthoracic echocardiography at rest and during VM in HH patients (n=55, 70±10 years) and controls (n=22, 67±6 years). Biplane LV volumes (n=39) and mitral inflow pulse-wave Doppler parameters (n=27) were also evaluated. In HH patients, resting LA compression was graded qualitatively (none-mild or moderate-severe). Results In both controls and HH patients, VM significantly decreased LA (controls, 19±2 vs 16±3 mm/m2; HH, 16±5 vs 9±5 mm/m2) and LV diameters (22±3 vs 19±3 mm/m2; 21±3 vs 17±3 mm/m2) and LV volume (38±8 vs 26±10 mL/m2; 31±8 vs 19±9 mL/m2) (P

To evaluate early diastolic septal relaxation as a parameter in the diagnostic workup via cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in patients with myocarditis.Early diastolic septal movement was evaluated (EDS) prospectively via frame-by-frame analysis in 255 consecutive patients with presenting signs of myocarditis and in 64 controls matched 4:1 for gender and age. ECG-triggered, T2-weighted, fast spin echo triple inversion recovery sequences and late gadolinium enhancement were obtained, as well as left ventricular (LV) function and dimensions in patients and controls.EDS was detected in 66.7% of the patients and 18.7% of the controls (p0.001). Sensitivity was 69.4% and specificity 79.7%. Patients with EDS had a significant lower LV ejection fraction (LV-EF) of 61.1±0.6% and significant higher end-diastolic volume (EDV) of 158.5±2.7 ml than in patients without EDS (LV-EF 65.3±0.9%, p=0.0001; EDV 148.4±3.9 ml, p=0.04). A significant negative correlation was observed between LV-EF and EDS in patients, and a lower LV-EF correlated with a more frequent occurrence of EDS (r=-0.24, p=0.0001). Scar tissue was also more frequent in patients than controls (63.1% and 7.8%, p=0.007).EDS is a parameter obtained non-invasively by CMRI and is present in a high percentage of patients with myocarditis. Cardiac functional parameters are significantly altered in patients with EDS. EDS is a feasible parameter that can play an important role in the diagnosis of myocarditis.

Background: Cardiac Magnetic Resonance is in need of a simple and robust method for diastolic function assessment that can be done with routine protocol sequences. Objective: To develop and validate a three-dimensional (3D) model-based volumetric assessment of diastolic function using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and compare the results obtained with the model with those obtained by echocardiography. Methods: The study participants provided written informed consent and were included if having undergone both echocardiography and cine steady-state free precession (SSFP) CMR on the same day. Guide points at the septal and lateral mitral annulus were used to define the early longitudinal relaxation rate (E'), while a time-volume curve from the 3D model was used to assess diastolic filling parameters. We determined the correlation between 3D CMR and echocardiography and the accuracy of CMR in classifying the diastolic function grade. Results: The study included 102 subjects. The E/A ratio by CMR was positively associated with the E/A ratio by echocardiography (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001). The early diastolic relaxation velocity by tissue Doppler and longitudinal relaxation rate for the lateral mitral annulus displacement were positively associated (p = 0.007), as were the ratio between Doppler E/e' and CMR E/E' (p = 0.01). CMR-determined normalized peak E (NE) and deceleration time (DT) were able to predict diastolic dysfunction (areas under the curve [AUCs] = 0.70 and 0.72, respectively). In addition, the lateral E/E' ratio showed good utility in identifying diastolic dysfunction (AUC = 0.80). Overall, echocardiography and CMR interobserver and intraobserver agreements were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient range 0.72 - 0.97). Conclusion: 3D modeling of standard cine CMR images was able to identify study subjects with reduced diastolic function and showed good reproducibility, suggesting a potential for a routine diastolic function assessment by CMR. Fundamento: A ressonância magnetica cardiaca necessita de um metodo simples e robusto para a avaliacao da funcao diastolica que pode ser feito com sequencias protocolares de rotina. Objetivo: Desenvolver e validar a avaliacao volumetrica da funcao diastolica atraves de um modelo tridimensional (3D) com utilizacao de imagens de ressonância magnetica cardiaca (RMC) e comparar os resultados obtidos com este modelo com os obtidos por ecocardiografia. Metodos: Os participantes do estudo assinaram um termo de consentimento e foram incluidos se tivessem sido submetidos no mesmo dia tanto a ecocardiografia quanto a cine RMC com precessao livre no estado estacionario (steady-state free precession, SSFP). Pontos-guia foram utilizados no anel mitral septal e lateral para definir a velocidade de estiramento no inicio da diastole (E'), enquanto curvas de volume-tempo do modelo 3D foram utilizadas para avaliar os parâmetros de enchimento diastolico. Foram determinadas a correlacao entre a RMC 3D e a ecocardiografia, alem da acuracia da RMC em classificar o grau de funcao diastolica. Resultados: Ao todo, 102 sujeitos foram incluidos no estudo. A razao E/A pela RMC esteve positivamente associada com a razao E/A obtida pela ecocardiografia (r = 0,71, p < 0,0001). Estiveram positivamente associadas a velocidade de relaxamento diastolico inicial ao Doppler tecidual e a velocidade de relaxamento longitudinal de deslocamento do anel mitral lateral (p = 0,007), bem como a razao entre E/e' por Doppler e E/E' pela RMC (p = 0,01). A velocidade normalizada de pico de enchimento (EM) determinada pela RMC e o tempo de desaceleracao (TD) foram capazes de predizer a disfuncao diastolica (areas sob a curva [AUCs] = 0,70 e 0,72, respectivamente). Alem disso, a razao E/E' lateral mostrou boa utilidade para a identificacao da disfuncao diastolica (AUC = 0,80). No geral, a ecocardiografia e a RMC apresentaram excelente concordância interobservador e intraobservador (coeficiente de correlacao intraclasse 0,72 - 0,97). Conclusao: Uma modelagem 3D de imagens padroes de cine RMC foi capaz de identificar os individuos do estudo com funcao diastolica reduzida e mostrou uma boa reprodutibilidade, sugerindo ter potencial na avaliacao rotineira da funcao diastolica por RMC.

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair may influence LV stiffness. We hypothesized that LV stiffness is altered after TOF repair and related to myocardial calibrated integrated backscatter (cIB) and LV diastolic myocardial deformation. Seventy-seven TOF patients and 80 controls were studied. LV stiffness was assessed by diastolic wall strain (DWS) as defined by (LVPWsystole-LVPWdiastole)/LVPWsystole, where LVPW is LV posterior wall thickness, and stiffness index as defined by (E/e/LV end-diastolic dimension), where E and e are respectively early diastolic transmitral inflow and mitral annular velocities. Septal and LVPW cIB and LV diastolic strain rates were determined. Patients had significantly lower DWS (p e ratio (r = −0.30, p e (β = −0.26, p = 0.008), RV end-diastolic area (β = −0.20, p = 0.02), and RV FAC (β = 0.18, p = 0.01) as significant correlates of DWS. Left ventricular stiffening occurs after TOF repair and is related to impaired LV diastolic myocardial deformation, myocardial cIB, and RV volume overload.