Pulmonary transvalvular and venous flows in the estimation of left ventricular diastolic pressures. A comparative Doppler-catheterization study.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between patterns of pulmonary transvalvular and venous flows in patients with ischemic heart disease, assessed by Doppler echocardiography, and invasive measurements of left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressures.
Population: Thirty-seven patients with clinical diagnosis or suspicion of coronary heart disease and referred for coronary angiography; all were in sinus rhythm, and had no known valvular heart or chronic pulmonary disease.
Methods: The following were recorded during transthoracic Doppler echocardiography: acceleration time (AT) and total ejection time (ET) of right ventricular outflow; duration of the flow at atrial contraction (a duration) and duration of the "A" wave of mitral inflow (A duration). These data were correlated with the values of LV filling pressures previously obtained by cardiac catheterization.
Results: We found a significant correlation of LV end-diastolic pressures with the difference a-A duration (r = 0.75; p < 0.001) and also with the ratio AT/ET (r = -0.73;.