Impaired left ventricular relaxation is an early manifestation of diastolic dysfunction: can noninvasive indices be of help?

Abstract

Diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle is characterized by two major components, impaired relaxation and decreased compliance. Impaired relaxation is often the first abnormality noted in diastolic dysfunction. Traditionally, invasive indices have been used as gold standards, in accurate detection of relaxation abnormalities of the left ventricle. Earlier noninvasive indices of relaxation, had some inherent limitations e.g. load-dependency. More recently newer noninvasive indices have been described, that accurately track changes in relaxation, detected by invasive indices. By utilizing an integrative approach and combining the use of traditional, noninvasive indices with the newer ones, it will be possible to detect abnormalities in relaxation, which could previously be detected only by invasive measurements.