[Diastolic function of the right ventricle in patients with lung diseases as evidenced by Doppler echocardiography]

The study was undertaken to examine the most informative Doppler echocardiographic parameters to determine right ventricular diastolic function in 46 pulmonological patients with pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure and 11 healthy individuals. The patients exhibited the highest blood velocity in the rapid filling phase, as compared to the healthy persons. They also demonstrated increased maximum blood velocities in the rapid filling phase on atrial systole and prolonged late blood flow in the rapid filling phase. Thus, Doppler echocardiography may be useful in the non-invasive diagnosis of right ventricular diastolic dysfunctions.