[Doppler echocardiography of ventricular diastole]

Non-invasive studies of left ventricular relaxation and filling by means of doppler-echocardiography are of considerable interest owing to easy recording and good reproducibility. However, such physiological parameters as site of measurement, heart rate and, chiefly, age may interfere with the curves obtained. The interpretation of tracings must also take into account the presence of mitral valve pathology (stenosis or regurgitation), aortic stenosis, disorders of atrioventricular (prolonged PR complex) or intraventricular (left bundle branch block) conduction and medication (e.g. vasodilators). In clinical practice, one of the main advantages of the technique is that it makes it possible to distinguish between the physiological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) of top-class sportsmen (without impaired ventricular filling) and the pathological LVH of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study, with a review of the literature, was to take stock of the value and limitations of the doppler indices.