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Variability of changes in Doppler transmitral filling pattern during stress echocardiography in patients with stable

J Meluzín1, J Toman, M Soucek

  • 11st Internal Department, St. Anna Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.

Insights

This study found that in patients with stable angina pectoris, stress echocardiography revealed non-linear changes in transmitral flow and deceleration time, indicating diastolic dysfunction during stress. These findings highlight the importance of assessing diastolic function under stress conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Stable angina pectoris is often associated with diastolic dysfunction.
  • Assessing diastolic function during physiological stress is crucial for understanding cardiac performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate changes in diastolic function parameters during stress in patients with stable angina pectoris.
  • To correlate these changes with pulmonary artery wedge pressure responses.

Main Methods:

  • 21 patients with stable angina underwent stress electrocardiography, echocardiography, and right-sided heart catheterization with atrial pacing.
  • Transmitral flow (E/A ratio) and deceleration time were measured alongside pulmonary artery wedge pressure at rest and during stress.

Main Results:

  • Patients were grouped based on pulmonary artery wedge pressure increase during stress.
  • Group A (significant pressure increase) showed non-linear changes in E/A ratio and deceleration time.
  • Specifically, E/A ratio decreased and then increased, while deceleration time shortened significantly at peak stress in Group A.

Conclusions:

  • Stress-induced changes in transmitral flow and deceleration time reflect altered diastolic function in stable angina.
  • These echocardiographic parameters, assessed during stress, can help identify patients with significant hemodynamic responses.

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