Mitral Annulus Diastolic Velocities Research Articles

Functional mitral regurgitation combined with increased early diastolic transmitral velocity to early mitral annulus diastolic velocity ratio is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with shock.

Background:Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is common in critically ill patients and may cause left atrial (LA) pressure elevation. This study aims to explore the prognostic impact of synergistic LA pressure elevation and FMR in patients with shock.Methods:We retrospectively screened 130 consecutive patients of 175 patients with shock from April 2016 to June 2017. The incidence and impact of FMR and early diastolic transmitral velocity to early mitral annulus diastolic velocity ratio (E/e’) ≥ 4 within 6 h of shock on the prognosis of patients were evaluated. Finally, the synergistic effect of FMR and E/e’ were assessed by combination, grouping, and trend analyses.Results:Forty-four patients (33.8%) had FMR, and 15 patients (11.5%) had E/e’ elevation. A multivariate analysis revealed FMR and E/e’ as independent correlated factors for 28-day mortality (P = 0.043 and 0.028, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant difference in survival between patients with and without FMR (χ2 = 7.672, P = 0.006) and between the E/e’ ≥ 14 and E/e’ < 14 groups (χ2 = 19.351, P < 0.010). Twenty-eight-day mortality was significantly different among the four groups (χ2 = 30.141, P < 0.010). The risk of 28-day mortality was significantly higher in group 4 (E/e’ ≥ 14 with FMR) compared with groups 1 (E/e’ < 14 without FMR) and 2 (E/e’ < 14 with FMR) (P = 0.001 and 0.046, respectively).Conclusions:Patients with shock can be identified by the presence of FMR. FMR and E/e’ are independent risk factors for a poor prognosis in these patients, and prognosis is worst when FMR and E/e’ ≥ 14 are present. It may be possible to improve prognosis by reducing LA pressure and E/e’.Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03082326.

Assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic abnormalities in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging

BackgroundConventional echocardiography is not sensitive enough to assess left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. This research attempts to find a new ultrasonic technology to better assess LV diastolic function, systolic function, and myocardial longitudinal and circumferential systolic strain of segments with different thicknesses in HCM patients.MethodsThis study included 50 patients with HCM and 40 healthy subjects as controls. The peak early and late mitral annulus diastolic velocities at six loci (Ea′ and Aa′, respectively) and the Ea′/Aa′ ratio were measured using real-time tri-plane echocardiography and quantitative tissue velocity imaging (RT-3PE-QTVI). The mean value of Ea′ at six loci (Em′) was obtained for the calculation of E/Em′ ratio. The LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), LV stroke volume (LVSV), and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). LV myocardial longitudinal peak systolic strain (LPSS) and circumferential peak systolic strain (CPSS) in the apical-middle-basal segments (LPSS-api, LPSS-mid, LPSS-bas; CPSS-api, CPSS-mid, and CPSS-bas, respectively) were obtained using a software for two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI). According to the different segmental thicknesses (STs) in each HCM patient, the values (LPSS and CPSS) of all the myocardial segments were categorized into three groups and the respective averages were computed.ResultsThe Ea′, Aa′, and, Ea′/Aa’ ratio in HCM patients were lower than those in the controls (all p < 0.001), while the E/Em′ ratio in HCM patients was higher than that in the controls (p < 0.001). The LVEDV, LVSV, and LVEF were significantly lower in HCM patients than in controls (all p < 0.001). In HCM patients, the LPSS-api, LPSS-mid, LPSS-bas, CPSS-api, CPSS-mid, and CPSS-bas and the LPSS and CPSS of LV segments with different thicknesses were all significantly reduced (all p < 0.001).ConclusionsIn HCM patients, myocardial dysfunction was widespread not only in the obviously hypertrophic segments but also in the non-hypertrophic segments; the LV systolic and diastolic functions were damaged, even with a normal LVEF. LV diastolic dysfunction, systolic dysfunction, and myocardial deformation impairment in HCM patients can be sensitively revealed by RT-3PE-QTVI, RT-3DE, and 2D-STI.

B-type natriuretic peptide and echocardiography reflect volume changes during pregnancy.

To evaluate B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac structure and function in normal women through pregnancy and the postpartum. In this prospective observational study, we obtained serial transthoracic echocardiograms, BNP, and NT-proBNP at seven intervals from 6 weeks' gestation through 12 months postpartum. Women with hypertension or cardiac disease were excluded. Using 6-12 months postpartum as reference for non-pregnant levels, echocardiogram measurements and BNP/NT-proBNP were compared over time using linear mixed models with Tukey-Kramer adjustment for multiple comparisons. Of 116 patients, data was available for 78-114 healthy pregnant or postpartum women within each time interval, and 102 patients provided data for ≥4 intervals. Compared to 6-12 months postpartum, BNP and NT-proBNP remained stable through pregnancy and delivery, increased within 48 h postpartum (P<0.0001), then returned to baseline. Left ventricular volume increased within 48 h postpartum (P=0.021) while left atrial volume increased at 18-24 weeks (P=0.0002), 30-36 weeks (P<0.0001) and within 48 h postpartum (P=0.002). The transmitral early/late diastolic velocity (E/A) ratio, transmitral early/peak mitral annulus diastolic velocity (E/E') ratio, isovolumic relaxation times, and mitral valve deceleration times were similar within 48 h and 6-12 months postpartum. In normal women, BNP/NT-proBNP, left atrial, and left ventricular volumes increase within 48 h postpartum without indications of altered diastolic function.

Diagnostic values of mitral inflow and mitral annulus diastolic velocity for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

To explore the diagnostic values of ratios of early diastolic peak transmitral velocity(E) to late velocity(A) (E/A) and E to early diastolic peak mitral annulus velocity (E/E') for heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF). Two hundred and sixteen healthy people were divided into <50 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, and ≥70 years groups to clarify the impact of aging on E/A and E/E'. Two hundred and two newly diagnosed consecutive in-patients with HF-PEF and 221 age- and sex-matched non-heart-failure subjects with risk factors of HF-PEF (negative controls) were enrolled.The diagnostic values and cutoff points of E/A and E/E' for HF-PEF were derived from receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. E/A and E/E' were significantly different among age groups in healthy controls (all P<0.01). Compared with <50 years group, average E/A was lower and average E/E' was higher in ≥70 years group(both P<0.01). E/A ratio was less than 1 in 68%(71/105), E/E' was >8 cm/s in 48% (50/105)healthy people with age≥60 years. Neither E/A nor E/E' of HF-PEF patients was statistically different regarding to NYHA classification (grade Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ), but NT-proBNP value increased in proportion to higher NYHA classification(P<0.01). The area of E/E' under ROC for diagnosing HF-PEF was 0.839(P<0.01), and the corresponding cutoff point was 9.5 with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 69%. The areas of E/A (larger value or smaller value indicating positive) under ROC for diagnosing HF-PEF were 0.469 and 0.531, respectively(all P>0.05). Aging exerts significant impacts on both E/A and E/E'. E/E' has moderate diagnostic accuracy while E/A is of limited value for diagnosing HF-PEF.

Estimation of the left ventricular diastolic function with cardiac MDCT: Correlation of the slope of the time-enhancement-curve with the mitral annulus diastolic velocity

Patients with diastolic heart failure tend to have a poor outcome, similar to that for patients with systolic heart failure. The aim of this study was to explore the ability of MDCT to estimate the left ventricular diastolic function. Thirty patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent MDCT and echocardiography. The early transmitral flow velocities (E) and the velocity of mitral annulus early diastolic motion (e') were measured in order to evaluate the diastolic function. The scanning delay of CT was determined using a test injection technique. The aortic enhancement was measured over the aortic-root lumen, and it was plotted over time to yield a time-enhancement-curve. A gamma variate function was then fit to the time-enhancement-curve and thereafter both the 'slope' of enhancement for each patient and the region of interest [ROI] were calculated. According to a univariate analysis, the slope of the time-enhancement-curve was found to correlate with the e' (r = 0.686, P = 0.000) and E/e' (r = -0.482, P = 0.007), however, no significant correlation was observed with the systolic parameters of the left ventricle. These results indicate that the slope of the time-enhancement-curve in the aorta significantly correlates with e', i.e. the diastolic parameters, which are independent of the systolic parameters. Based on these findings, we propose that the slope of the time-enhancement-curve may serve as a parameter for the left ventricular diastolic function on MDCT.

Effects of on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting on left ventricular relaxation and compliance: a comprehensive perioperative echocardiography study

The short-term effect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on diastolic function is only moderately investigated. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether avoidance of cardioplegic arrest by an off-pump CABG procedure has advantages over on-pump procedure regarding diastolic relaxation and compliance. We investigated whether components of diastolic function would be improved the day after CABG depending on the type of the surgical procedure. Spontaneously breathing on-pump (n = 20) and off-pump CABG (n = 12) patients underwent a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography examination the day before and the day after elective CABG, including transmitral and pulmonary vein flow parameters, colour M-mode flow propagation velocity (Vp) and tissue Doppler assessment of the average mitral annulus diastolic velocity (Em). Isovolumic relaxation and E-wave deceleration time were corrected for heart rate (IVRTcHR and DTcHR). Left ventricular (LV) relaxation time (τ) and LV operating stiffness (LVOS) were calculated. Overall and independent from operation type and preload, CABG decreased IVRTcHR (107 ± 20 vs. 93 ± 15 ms) (P < 0.01) and τ (54 ± 10 vs. 45 ± 10 ms) (P < 0.01), increased Vp (49 ± 22 vs. 75 ± 37 cm/s) (P < 0.01), and increased Em (6.6 ± 2.0 vs. 7.3 ± 1.3 cm/s, P = 0.06), indicating improved relaxation. LVOS increased (0.13 ± 0.06 vs. 0.22 ± 0.05 mmHg/mL) (P < 0.01), compatible with an impaired compliance. A similar improvement in relaxation and impairment in compliance were observed in both groups. Myocardial relaxation improved the day after CABG irrespective of the use of cardiopulmonary bypass with cardioplegic arrest. Impairment in compliance could not be prevented by the avoidance of cardioplegia.

The Time Constant of Left Ventricular Relaxation

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction induces the increase of LV diastolic pressure and subsequently of left atrial and pulmonary capillary pressures independent of systolic function, resulting in the onset of heart failure. In the early 1990s, several clinical studies demonstrated that diastolic dysfunction is an independent prognostic factor in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (EF).1,2 In the past decade, many clinical studies have clarified that heart failure with preserved EF (HFPEF) accounts for ≈40% of heart failure and that its prognosis is as poor as heart failure with reduced EF.3 With the growing interest in HFPEF, the important role of diastolic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of heart failure has been realized again, because it is plausible that LV diastolic dysfunction is one of the principal causes for this phenotype of heart failure.4 Article see p 268 Major determinants of LV diastolic function are relaxation and stiffness.5 Despite the clinical requisite for their evaluation in understanding the pathophysiology of each patient with heart failure, there are no established indices for the noninvasive assessment of these factors. An invasive measure of LV pressure is required for the evaluation of LV relaxation, and the simultaneous recording of LV pressure and geometry is necessary for the assessment of LV stiffness. LV relaxation abnormality is likely to precede LV stiffening or systolic dysfunction during the development of chronic heart failure and has been assigned as a sensitive sign of LV dysfunction. Peak negative value of the first derivative of LV pressure (peak−dP/dt) has been used as a quantitative index for LV relaxation, but it depends on many other hemodynamic and functional factors. Weiss et al6 showed that the time course of isovolumic pressure decrease subsequent to peak−dP/dt is exponential and proposed the time …

Abnormalities of Left Ventricular Function in Asymptomatic Patients with Systemic Sclerosis Using Doppler Measures of Myocardial Strain

To verify whether myocardial impairment can be detected by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients with asymptomatic systemic sclerosis (SSc), 35 patients with SSc with normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and 35 control subjects were studied. Myocardial longitudinal peak systolic velocity, strain, and strain rate (SR) were measured by TDI at a regional level, and for each parameter the average value was calculated using an LV 12-segment model. In addition, the mitral annulus diastolic velocities and the E/Ea ratio were obtained. Myocardial calibrated integrated backscatter (cIB) was used as an index of fibrosis. Compared with controls, patients with SSc showed lower peak strain (-19.5% +/- 2.3% vs -26.1% +/- 2.4%, P < .001), peak SR (-1.34 +/- 0.14 s(-1) vs -1.59 +/- 0.14 s(-1), P < .001), septal cIB (-19.5 +/- 3.1 dB vs -23.8 +/- 1.6 dB, P < .001), and posterior wall cIB (-23.4 +/- 2.9 dB vs -28.6 +/- 2.5 dB, P = .001), and higher E/Ea (11.7 +/- 2.5 vs 9.8 +/- 1.1, P < .001), whereas peak systolic velocities did not differ. Strain, SR, and E/Ea correlated better with cIB than systolic velocities. TDI-derived strain, SR, and E/Ea can detect impairment of LV myocardial function in asymptomatic patients with SSc with normal LV ejection fraction better than TDI systolic velocities.

Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Left Ventricular Untwisting Rate by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography”

We appreciate the interest of Dwivedi et al in our study.1 They raise 3 points with respect to our results. The first deals with their belief that the untwisting rate (UR) should be abnormal in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF), the second deals with cardiac function in these patients at rest and with exercise, and the third has to do with the underlying mechanisms. Dwivedi et al base their impression that DHF patients should have a reduced UR on reduced Ea, on other studies showing abnormal UR, and on a report in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that Dwivedi and colleagues believe showed that peak UR is an …

Effect of Losartan on Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Patients With Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle is a prominent feature caused by myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis. Angiotensin II has trophic and profibrotic effects on the heart, and the blockade of angiotensin II receptors reverses hypertrophy and fibrosis in human cardiac diseases and in animal HC. This study investigated the short-term (6 months) effects of losartan 100 mg/day in 20 patients with nonobstructive HC, with an emphasis on left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, compared with 10 patients with HC who were not treated. At the final evaluation, significant changes were observed in the losartan group: a left atrial diameter decrease (p<0.0001), a tissue Doppler early (Ea) mitral annulus diastolic velocity increase (p=0.003) and an E/Ea ratio decrease (p=0.0002), and a significant decrease in plasma levels of the aminoterminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) from a median of 860 to 606 pg/ml (p=0.001). A significant correlation was found between percentage changes in NT-pro-BNP and the E/Ea ratio from baseline to 6 months (r=0.61, p=0.002). In the 2 groups, echocardiographic LV wall and cavity measures did not change. In conclusion, in selected patients with nonobstructive HC, losartan during a 6-month period improved LV diastolic function.

Echocardiography as a Noninvasive Swan-Ganz Catheter

Diwan and co-investigators report in this issue of Circulation that the interval between onset of mitral E and annular early diastolic velocity (Ea) by tissue Doppler, TE−Ea, can be used to estimate left ventricular (LV) filling pressure in patients with mitral valve disease.1 Garcia and colleagues were the first to report that the onset of Ea occurred 7.5±3.5 ms after peak mitral inflow velocity in 7 patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy, whereas Ea started 22±19 ms earlier than did E in the normal group.2 Subsequently, TE−Ea has been shown to correlate with the time constant of LV relaxation (τ) demonstrated by Hasegawa and associates in their elegant animal experiment.3 With worsening of heart failure by rapid pacing, Ea progressively decreased in velocity and delayed in onset. Mitral E occurred coincidently with the termination of the early diastolic left arterial (LA) and LV pressure gradient at baseline and all stages of heart failure. In contrast, with increasing heart failure, Ea was progressively delayed after LA to LV pressure crossover, and TE−Ea was related to τ. Rivas-Gotz, Nagueh, and their associates also demonstrated that TE−Ea was prolonged after constriction of the circumflex coronary artery in dogs.4 In patients with heart failure, LV myocardial relaxation and compliance are decreased. See p 3281 Although LV filling is initiated and enhanced by augmentable myocardial relaxation in healthy individuals, it is driven by high filling pressure in patients with heart failure because myocardial relaxation remains reduced, not being sensitive to preload. Myocardial relaxation also affects the isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT). As relaxation becomes abnormal, LV pressure falls more slowly and the opening of the mitral valve is delayed, resulting in a longer IVRT. IVRT, however, becomes shorter as LA pressure increases; hence, IVRT∝τ/LA pressure. Because TE−Ea∝τ, …

Haemodynamic insights into the effects of ischaemia and cycle length on tissue Doppler-derived mitral annulus diastolic velocities.

In the present study, we performed simultaneous epicardial echocardiography and left heart catheterization on ten adult dogs to investigate the effects of ischaemia and tachycardia on the mitral annulus early (E(a)) and late (A(a)) diastolic velocities and the haemodynamic mechanisms involved. Left atrial pressure and left ventricular (LV) volumes and pressures were measured with 5 French Millar catheters. In each dog, inferior vena cava occlusion was used to alter preload and circumflex coronary artery occlusion was applied to induce ischaemia at two different cycle lengths: 450 and 550 ms. At both cycle lengths, ischaemia resulted in a reduction in LV relaxation, LV global and ipsilateral systolic function, transmitral pressure gradient (TMG), E(a) and A(a) ( P <0.05). The shorter cycle length was associated with a shorter tau (time constant of LV relaxation), reduced TMG and reduced septal and lateral E(a) ( P <0.05 for all variables). Both septal and lateral A(a) were significantly increased ( P <0.05). Ischaemia influences E(a) through changes in LV relaxation, global and regional systolic function and TMG. An increase in heart rate reduces E(a), but increases A(a).

Relation of tissue Doppler-derived myocardial velocities to serum levels and myocardial gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and inducible nitric oxide synthase in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy having coronary artery bypass grafting

We evaluated the relation of segmental and annular tissue Doppler (TD) velocities to serum levels and myocardial gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide (NOS2) in humans. Seven patients with coronary artery disease underwent echocardiographic examination including TD imaging, along with transmural endomyocardial biopsies (2 biopsies per patient for a total of 14 specimens) at the time of bypass surgery. The specimens were analyzed for the number of mRNA copies of TNF-α and NOS2. In addition, serum levels of TNF-α and nitrite were determined before and after surgery. Normal segments (n = 7) had fewer numbers of mRNA copies of both TNF-α (54.6 vs 6.5, p = 0.002) and NOS2 (3,093 ± 486 vs 661 ± 259, p <0.001) than dysfunctional segments (n = 7). Peak systolic velocity (Sm) (13.3 ± 1.4 vs 4.9 ± 1.6 cm/s, p = 0.002) and early diastolic velocity (Em) (16.5 ± 2.7 vs 8.8 ± 1.3 cm/s, p = 0.02) were significantly higher in normal segments. A significant correlation was present among Em, Sm, and the number of mRNA copies of TNF-α and NOS2 at baseline and during infusion of dobutamine (r range −0.72 to −0.92, p <0.01 for all). Likewise, significant relations were present between the changes in serum cytokine levels and changes in the mitral annulus diastolic velocity, E/Ea ratio, and end-diastolic wall stress (r range 0.75 to 0.88, p ≤0.05 for all). In conclusion, Sm and Em are strongly dependent on the regional levels of cytokine gene expression, which are known to have negative inotropic and lusitropic effects when overexpressed.

Hemodynamic determinants of the mitral annulus diastolic velocities by tissue Doppler

OBJECTIVESOur goal was to identify the hemodynamic determinants of the mitral annulus (MA) diastolic velocities by tissue Doppler.BACKGROUNDThe MA diastolic velocities are promising indexes of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. However, their hemodynamic determinants have not yet been evaluated.METHODSTen adult mongrel dogs underwent left atrial (LA) and LV pressure measurements by Millar catheters while tissue Doppler was applied to record the MA diastolic velocities at the septal and lateral corners. Conventional transmitral flow was also obtained. Left atrial and LV pressures were modified utilizing fluid administration and caval occlusion, whereas dobutamine and esmolol were used to change LV and LA relaxation. Left ventricular filling pressures were altered during different lusitropic states to evaluate for the possible interaction of preload and LV relaxation on the early diastolic velocity (Ea).RESULTSIn the majority of dogs, a positive significant relation was observed between Ea and the transmitral pressure gradient (r = 0.57, p = 0.04). The Ea had strong correlations with tau (r = −0.83, p < 0.001), LV −dP/dt (r = 0.8, p < 0.001) and minimal LV pressure (r = −0.76, p < 0.01). However, there was no relation between Ea and the transmitral pressure gradient in experimental stages where tau >50 ms. Furthermore, the late diastolic velocity at both corners of the MA had significant positive relations with LA dP/dt (r = 0.67, p < 0.01) and LA relaxation (r = 0.73, p < 0.01) but an inverse correlation with LV end-diastolic pressure (r = –0.53, p = 0.01).CONCLUSIONSLeft ventricular relaxation, minimal pressure and preload determine Ea while late diastolic velocity determinants include LA dP/dt, LA relaxation and LV end-diastolic pressure.