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Echocardiographic Approaches and Protocols for Comprehensive Phenotypic Characterization of Valvular Heart Disease in Mice
Published on: February 14, 2017
[Diastolic function of the left heart ventricle and new possibilities for its evaluation]
Insights
Impaired diastolic function, often seen in heart disease and hypertension, can lead to heart failure independently of systolic function. Early detection via methods like Doppler echocardiography is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Physiology
Context:
- Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is a key issue in cardiovascular disease.
- Conditions like ischemic heart disease and hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy commonly exhibit abnormal diastolic function.
Purpose:
- To review current findings on the physiology and pathophysiology of cardiac diastole.
- To detail the mechanisms behind impaired left ventricular diastolic function in specific conditions.
- To discuss diagnostic methods for evaluating diastolic function, including Doppler echocardiography.
Summary:
- The diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle is critical for heart function.
- Abnormalities in left ventricular diastolic function, particularly in ischemic heart disease and hypertension, represent an early stage of cardiac affection.
- These diastolic disorders can cause heart failure even with preserved systolic function.
Impact:
- Highlights diastolic dysfunction as an early indicator of heart disease.
- Emphasizes the importance of assessing diastolic function for diagnosing and managing heart failure.
- Underscores the utility of non-invasive techniques like Doppler echocardiography in clinical practice.
Abstract:
The authors present a brief account of contemporary findings pertaining to the physiology and pathophysiology of the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. The abnormal diastolic function of the left ventricle is documented best in ischaemic heart disease and hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy. In these conditions the mechanisms of the development of impaired left ventricular diastolic function are described in more detail. These disorders are the early stage of affection of the heart muscle and do not depend on the quality of systolic function of the left ventricle. Isolated disorders of left ventricular diastolic function may be the cause of left-sided cardiac failure. The authors deal also with invasive and non-invasive methods which make examination of diastolic function possible and discuss in more detail Doppler visualization of the blood flow across the mitral valve.
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