Diastolic function of the left ventricle assessed by echocardiography

The authors evaluated a value of diastolic indices of the left ventricle assessed by Doppler from transmitral flow in prediction of diastolic dysfunction. They were related to instantaneous pressure decline of the left ventricle, which was considered as a standard of left ventricular relaxation and was evaluated by Doppler. In a group of 38 patients the diastolic function was assessed by measuring the isovolumic relaxation time, peak velocity during the rapid filling phase of the left ventricle, its deceleration time, peak velocity during atrial contraction, its ratio and flow propagation velocity. Polynomial regression revealed significant association of the instantaneous pressure decline of the left ventricle to isovolumic relaxation time and a value of more than 100 ms identifying a high risk group of patients. There was no association to other echocardiographic indices of diastolic function. (Tab. 3, Fig. 2, Ref. 11)