Assessment of Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve by Noninvasive Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography in Patients with Angiographically Normal Coronary Arteries

Summary： The measurement of coronary flow velocity reserve （CFVR） by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography （TTDE） with invasive intracoronary Doppler flow wire technique （ICD） was validated and the pathological factors which influence CFVR in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries were analyzed. CFVR was determined successfully in left anterior descending artery （LAD） in 37 of 40 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries （men 22, women 15, age 20-75 years, mean age 54±12 years）. Coronary flow velocity was measured in the distal LAD by TTDE with contrast enhancement at baseline and during intravenous adenosine infusion of 110 μg/ kg per min within 48 h after ICD technique. Average peak velocity at baseline （APVb）, average peak velocity during hyperemia （APVh） and CFVR determined from TTDE were correlated closely with those from ICD measurements （APVb： y= 0. 64x＋ 5. 04, r=0. 86, P〈0. 001; APVh： y=0. 63x＋14. 36, r=0.82, P〈0.001; CFVR： y=0.65xq-0.92, r=0.88, P〈0.001）. For CFVR measurements, the mean differences between TTDE and ICD methods were 0. 12±0.39. CFVR in patients with history of hypertension was significantly lower than that in patients without history of hypertension （P〈0.05）. Intravascular ultrasound （IVUS） was performed in 34 patients. Plaque formation was found in LAD by IVUS in 17 （50%） patients. No significant difference in CFVR was found between the patients without plaque formation （3. 11±0. 49） and those with plaque formation （2. 76±0.53, P=0. 056）. It is suggested that TTDE with contrast enhancement provides reliable measurement of APV and CFVR in the distal I.AD. The early stage of atherosclerosis could be detected by IVUS, which may be normal in angiography. CFVR is impaired in patients with history of hypertension compared with that in patients without history of hypertension.

Value of Acceleration Flow in the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery for the Detection of Coronary Artery Stenosis by Transthoracic Coronary Color Doppler Echocardiography

Summary： Whether the localized flow acceleration occurs in the resting stenotie left anterior descending coronary artery was explored and its value for detection of coronary stenosis estimated. Blood flow in the left anterior descending coronary arteries in 45 patients was detected by transthoratio color Doppler echocardiograph and multipoint pulse Doppler spectrums were recorded in the same segment. The ratio of the maximal peak diastolic velocity to the minimal peak diastolic velocity was calculated. The ratio ≥1.5 was the cutoff value for the presence of localized acceleration flow. There were 23 patients with localized acceleration flow examined by eehoeardiography. Twenty of them were found to have luminal diameter stenosis （60%-98%） in the left anterior descending coronary arteries by coronary angiography and 3 patients were normal. There were 22 patients without localized acceleration flow examined by eehoeardiography. Eighteen of them had no or %60 stenosis. Four patients had serious stenosis （≥95%） or occluded segments in the left anterior descending coronary arteries on coronary angiography. The ratio of the maximal peak diastolic velocity to the minimal peak diastolic velocity was significantly higher in patients with left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis than that in those without stenosis （1.9±0.3 vs 1.3±0.2, P〈0.01） and it correlated significantly with left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis （r=0.77, P〈0.01）. The specificity by using the ratio≥1. 5 for stenosis detection was 85.7% （18/ 21）, and the sensitivity was 83.3% （20/24）. This study demonstrated that local blood flow velocity was increased in the resting stenotie left anterior descending coronary artery. Transthoraeie color Doppler eehoeardiography is a reliable noninvasive method to detect localized acceleration flow in the left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis and it is useful in the noninvasive diagnosis of stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery.

Non-invasive Assessment of Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve: A New Method Using Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography

Summary: Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) allows noninvasive flow measurement in the distal left anterior descending artery (LAD). The feasibility of detecting coronary flow by contrast-enhanced TTDE with second harmonic technique was assessed, the coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) was evaluated in comparison to intracoronary Doppler flow (ICD) analysis and the CFVR after PTCA in LAD was investigated. In 77 (96 %) of 80 patients, CFVR was successfully determined with intravenous adenosine infusion. Doppler signal quality was evaluated in the first 46 patients by use of intravenous Levovist infusion and second harmonic technique. The Doppler flow was not visible in 1 patient only. CFVR determined from TTDE (2.77±0.65) was correlated closely with those from ICD (2.88±0.78) measurements (y=0.73x+0.67, r=0.87, P<0.001). In conclusion, TTDE is a feasible method and provides reliable data on CFVR which can be used for follow-up after PTCA.

Pulsed Doppler Tissue Imaging for Assessment of Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Synchronicity in Normal Subjects

Objectives To quantitatively analyze the longitudinal myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities and time intervals of the left ventricle in normal subjects, and to explore the value of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging （DTI） for the assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic synchronicity. Methods Twenty and six healthy subjects were studied by pulsed DTI. The septal and lateral, anterior and inferior walls of the left ventricle were displayed respectively, and basal and middle segments of each wall were selected for myocardial motion spectrum sampling. DTI parameters were： peak systolic myocardial velocity （s）, regional pre-ejection period （PEP）, time to the peak of s wave （Ts）, regional ejection time （ET） ; peak early diastolic velocity （e）, peak late diastolic velocity （a）, e/a ratio, time to the beginning of e wave （QE）, time to the peak of e wave （Te） and regional isovolumic relaxation time （IVRT）. Results The e and e/a were significantly different among basal segments, and s and e/a were significantly different among middle segments, with the highest value in lateral segments and the lowest value in septal segments. The s, e and a were all significantly higher in basal segments than middle segments. None of the systolic time intervals （PEP, Ts and ET） and diastolic time intervals （QE, Te and IVRT） were significantly different among basal segments and middle segments, neither were they when basal segment was compared with middle segment. Conclusions In normal subjects, the longitudinal myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities of the left ventricle are not homogeneous, but the contraction and relaxation are highly synchronized. Pulsed DTI can be used to quantitatively analyze the systolic and diastolic synchronicity of the heart.

Experimental Study of Assessment on Ventricular Activation Origin and Contraction Sequence by Doppler Tissue Imaging

To evaluate the possibility and accuracy of Doppler tissue image (DTI) on assessment of normal and abnormal ventricular activation and contraction sequence, 9 open chest canine hearts were analyzed by acceleration mode, M mode, and spectrum mode DTI. Our results showed that: (1) Acceleration mode DTI could show the origin of activation and conduction sequence on line; (2) M mode DTI revealed that the activation in mid interventricular septum was earlier than that in mid left ventricular posterior wall at sinus activation; (3) Spectrum DTI showed the ventricular endocardium was activated earlier than the ventricular epicardium in all segments at sinus rhythm. The earliest site of activation of the normal ventricular wall was at middle interventricular septum; the latest site was at basal posterior wall; the contraction sequence was different at the different walls; (4) During abnormal ventricular activation, mid left ventricular posterior wall was activated earliest in accordance with the pacing sites. Abnormal ventricular activation was slower than sinus activation, and the contraction sequence varied at different sites of ventricular wall. It is concluded that DTI can be used to localize the origin of normal or abnormal myocardial activation and to assess the contraction sequence conveniently, accurately and non invasively.

Evaluation of Normal Fetal Left Cardiac Function by Tissue Doppler Imaging

To explore the feasibility of using tissue Doppler imaging technique for the evaluation of fetus＇s left ventrieular diastolic function, and to confirm its reliability by comparing it with traditional methods, this study examined 61 pregnant women in whom satisfactory images were obtained of fetal eehoeardiography. The peak velocity of blood stream were measured, including E, A and E/A at mitral valve orifice on the four chamber view with pulse wave. And then tissue Doppler imaging mode was employed to measure the velocity of mitral valve annulus including Ea, Aa, Sa and Ea / Aa. Correlation analysis was conducted between the velocity of orifice and that of annulus in terms of gestation age. And then correlation analysis was performed between above data and gestation ages. A positive correlation was found between the velocity of orifice and that of annulus, and the velocity increased with the gestation age. The change was the most significant between the 28th and the 34th week of gestation age. Our study showed that it is feasible to evaluate the fetus＇s left ven trieular diastole function by tissue Doppler imaging. Its stability can avoid the influence of fetal heart rates and preload.

In Vitro Validation of Tissue Doppler Left Ventricular Regional Wall Velocities by Using a Novel Balloon Phantom

To investigate the validity and accuracy of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) using a novel balloon phantom, validation of TDI myocardial velocity measurements has been carried out indirectly from conventional M mode images. However it is not a true and independent gold standard. We described a new TDI validation method by using a specially developed left ventricular balloon model mounted in a water bath and constructed using two pear shaped balloons. It was connected to a pulsatile flow pump at 8 stroke volumes (50-85 ml/beat). The displacement and velocity of the balloon walls were recorded simultaneously by video imaging and TDI on a GE Vingmed System Five with a 5 MHz phased array probe at the highest frame rates available. Conventional M mode and 2 D imaging verified that our balloon model mimicked the shape and wall motion of left ventricle. There was a good correlation and agreement between the maximum video excursion of the anterior and posterior walls of the phantom and the results of the temporal integration of digital distance data by TDI (Anterior wall: r =0.97, SEE=0.24 mm, ±s =0.04±0.24 mm; Posterior wall: r =0.95, SEE=0.22 mm, ±s =0.03±0.24 mm). Analysis of the velocity profile by the TDI method showed that the velocity at each measured point was correlated well with the velocity obtained from the video images (Anterior wall: r =0.97, SEE=0.30 mm, ±s =-0.04±0.28 mm; Posterior wall: r =0.97, SEE=0.30 mm, ±s =0.04±0.28 mm). Our balloon model provided a new independent method for the validation of TDI data. This study demonstrated that the present TDI system is reliable for measuring wall motion distance and velocity.

Value of Low Dose Dobutamine Doppler Tissue Imaging for Detecting Hibernating Myocardium

Summary: In order to assess the value of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) in detecting viable hibernating myocardium, 20 patients with coronary artery disease and chronic left ventricular dysfunction underwent low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography and low dose dobutamine stress DTI. The results showed that among the 100 asynergic segments, 35 segments showed improvement after dobutamine infusion (group H) and no changes were observed in the remaining 65 segments (group N). The left ventricular echocardiographic score index decreased from 1.60±0. 35 to 1.44±0.36 ( n =20, P <0.01). During low dose dobutamine stress DTI, there was no difference in the values of velosity of S wave (V s) before dobutamine infusion between two groups. However, after dobutamine infusion, the values of V s and VR in group H were significantly higher than those in group N (V s:10.1±3.0 cm/s vs 7.3±2.2 cm/s, P <0.01; VR: 60 %±41 % vs 25 %±32 %, P <0.001). 95.7 % asynergic myocardial segments with VR≤0 had no viability while 86 % asynergic segments with VR>80 % were viable myocardium. It is concluded that the different reactions to dobutamine stress between hibernating and necrosis myocardium could be showed by DTI and it is more clinically significant when VR≤0 and VR>80 %.

ASSESSMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS BY PUSLED WAVE DOPPLER TISSUE IMAGING

Objective To examine the clinical application of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging(DTI)for regional left ventricular function assessment in normal subjects. Methods We examined 50 healthy subjects(range 12-42 years,mean age 28.3 ± 6.9 years)using pulsed Doppler tissue imaging to characterize the diastolic and systolic velocity profiles of mitral annulus. Recordings were made along the long axis in the apical 4-chamber, 2-chamber, and long apical views of 6 sites(posterior-septum, lateral, anterior, inferior, anterior-septum, posterior)at the mitral annulus. Myocardial velocities were determined with use of variance F statistical analysis. Correlation analysis was employed to test the relationship between age and mitral annular velocities. Results Both early diastolic and systolic velocities at the septum were lower than other sites. There were no differences in mitral annulus late diastolic velocities. Mean early diastolic and systolic velocities was negatively correlated with age. Conclusions Doppler tissue imaging can directly reflect regional left ventricular function.

ASSESSMENT OF DIASTOLIC FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY BY DOPPLER TISSUE IMAGING

To determine the clinical application of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging in assessing the left ventricular diasto-lic function and in discriminating between normal subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with various stages of diastolic dysfunction. Methods We measured the peak diastolic velocities of mitral annulus in 81 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with various stages of diastolic dysfunction and 50 normal volunteers by Doppler tissue imaging using the apical window at 2-ch-amber and long apical views, respectively. The myocardial velocities were determined with use of variance F statistical analysis. Results Early diastolic myocardial velocities of mitral annulus were higher in normal subjects than in patients with hy-pertrophic cardiomyopathy with either delayed relaxation, pseudonormal filling, or restrictive filling. However, peak myocar-dial velocities of mitral annulus during atrial contraction were similar in normal subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Conclusion Doppler tissue imaging can directly reflect upon left diastolic ventricular function. Early phase of diastole was the best discriminator between control subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in Systolic Heart Failure, Pulsed and Tissue Doppler Echocardiographic Abnormalities

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a common clinical syndrome mostly due to the impaired ability of the Left Ventricle (LV) to eject blood with reduced cardiac output. Heart failure is called systolic (SHF) if left ventricle ejection fraction on echo-cardiogram is low (LVEF of ≤50%). Aim: To assess the echocardiographic characteristics of patients with SHF with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and compare with those with Sinus Rhythm (SR) on 12 leads ECG. Furthermore, to evaluate the clinical and biochemical markers for the prediction of AF in SHF. Method: Over two years duration, each patient diagnosed with SHF was enrolled in the study (n = 354) based on admission code. AF or sinus rhythm on 12 leads ECG was documented on each patient. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the risk ratio of different clinical and Doppler derived variables for the development of AF in SHF. Results: Out of the total hospital medical admissions of 14,674 patients, there were 354 patients with diagnosis of SHF, a prevalence of 2.4%. The incidence of AF on ECG was 109 (31%) patients in the whole study population and 245 (69%) in SR. M Mode echocardiogram in patients with SHF and AF compared with those in SR showed significant dilation of LV cavity in systole with LVESD of 5.72 ± 0.63 vs. 5.23 ± 0.76 cm, P < 0.001 and in Diastole LVEDD of 6.83 ± 0.51 vs. 6.58 ± 0.63 cm, P < 0.001. Pulsed Doppler echocardiogram showed a severe restrictive-pattern with shorter Decellration Time (DT) of 163.73 ± 7.42 vs. 214.9 ± 31.81msec, P < 0.001 and higher Pulse to Tissue Doppler ratio of E/Em of 14.26 ± 1.34 vs. 9.99 ± 1.27, P , and the serum level of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) hormone of 723.72 ± 13.45 vs. 686.98 ± 72.57 pg/ml, P < 0.001. The predictive risks (odd ratio) of different clinical variables for the development of AF in SHF were positive for high BNP > 500 pg/ml of 2.8, history of hypertension of 1.8, history of DM of 1.7, BMI > 28 of 1.4, LV hypertrophy on ECG of 1.3. Conclusions: The prevalence of Systolic Heart Failure in the study population was 2.4%. The prevalence of AF in the study population was 31%. The best predictors of AF in SHF were high BNP > 500 pg/ml, history of hypertension, Diabete Mellitus and LV Hypertrophy on ECG.

Diagnostic value of dobutamine stress Doppler tissue imaging in diabetic patients with suspected coronary artery disease

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is often silent in diabetic patients, and it is typically in ad-vanced stages of development by the time it manifests. Various forms of stress testing have been investigated to detect obstructive CAD in diabetes mellitus. Ob-jectives: To assess the diagnostic value of dobutamine stress pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) compared with standard wall motion analysis in de-tection of myocardial ischemia in diabetic patients with suspected CAD. Methods: The study comprised 46 diabetic patients with suspected CAD underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) with DTI within 4 weeks before coronary angiography(CA). Dobutamine infusion started at 5 μ/kg/min and in-creased up to 40 μ/kg/min with additional atropine during submaximal heart rate responses. In addition to wall-motion score index (WMSI) analysis, pulsed- wave DTI examination of basal and mid segments of posteroseptal, lateral, anterior, inferior and antero- septal walls was performed. Myocardial velocities were measured at rest in the apical 4, 3 and 2-cham- ber views. The measurements were repeated at low dose (10 - 15 μ/kg/min) and at peak stress (40 μ/kg/min). DTI measurements included peak systolic velocity (S), peak early diastolic velocity (E) and peak late diastolic velocity (A) and the results were com-pared to WMSI analysis. Patients were classified into two groups according to CA results;group (I) di-abetics with positive CA (n = 27) and group (II) di-abetics with negative CA (n = 19). Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in duration of diabetes, global WMSI at rest or the ? changes (stress-rest/rest) of WMSI (P > 0.05). Global S and global E were significantly lower in group I compared to group II at peak stress (11.3 ± 3.7 cm/sec vs. 14.5 ± 2.2 cm/sec, p < 0.01) and (11.3 ± 1.6 cm/sec vs. 13.1 ± 2.1 cm/sec, p < 0.01) respectively. The cutoff points for global S and global E to detect obstructive CAD in diabetics were 11.3 cm/s and 11.2 cm/s re-spectively with 75.7%, 73.4% sensitivity and 94.7%, 89.47% specificity respectively. An increment (? changes) less than 0.56 in S or 0.26 in E from rest to peak stress identified CAD with 78.8 %, 89.3% sensi-tivity and 94.7%, 90.7% specificity respectively. The accuracy of DTI parameters during peak stress was higher than WMSI analysis (sensitivity 74.1% vs. 59.3% and specificity 90% vs. 79%, P < 0.01 for each). In multivariate regression analysis, only ?S and ?E were independent predictors of obstructive CAD in diabetics (odd ratio: 36.16, 95% CI, 1.34- 532.01 and 63.77, 95% CI, 3.19-721.47) respectively. Conclusion: Quantitative analysis, using DTI during DSE, adds new dimension in diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. It is more sensitive, specific, accurate and reproducible compared with standard wall motion analysis for recognition of significant CAD in diabetic patients.

Pulsed and Tissue Doppler Echocardiographic Abnormalities in Patients with Diastolic Heart Failure with and without Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Symptoms of heart failure (HF) are identical in both systolic (SHF) and diastolic hear failure (DHF). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure varies in different studies depending on the criteria of enrollment and the use of echocardiographic parameters in the definition of HF. Aim: To assess the clinical characteristic of pa- tients with DHF complicated by AF and compare with those with SHF in regard of echocardiographic abnormalities and causative agents. Furthermore, evaluate the clinical and biochemical markers for the prediction of AF in HF. Method: Over the duration of 12 months, each patient diagnosed as HF based on admission code was enrolled in the study. Patients were classified into two groups: group 1: DHF, with preserved LVPEF% > 50%, n = 204 (60%), and group 2, with SHF, with LVREF% ≤ 50%, n = 140 (40%). The presence or absence of AF on ECG was recorded. The predictive value of different clinical and biochemical variables for the development of AF was evaluated using logistic multiple regression analysis. Results: Three hundred and forty four eligible patients were admitted to hospital with heart failure out of 7650 who had other medical problems. The prevalence of HF in this population was 4.5%, those with DHF were 2.7% and SHF of 1.8%. The incidence of AF on ECG was 35% in the whole study population and 65% were in sinus rhythm (SR). The occurrence of AF was twice higher in DHF patients of 22% compared with 11% in SHF. Echo pulsed Doppler in DHF and AF compared with those in SR showed a severe restrictive pattern with significantly thick septum wall, higher LV mass index, shorter DT and higher E/e? ratio of 12.4 vs. 9.73, P 0.05. The predictive risk (odd ratio) of different clinical variables for development of AF in HF was positive for LV hypertrophy on ECG of 2.4, history of hypertension of 1.6, history of DM of 1.4, BMI > 28 of 1.7. Conclusions: The prevalence of HF was 4.5% in the study population, with SHF of 1.8% and DHF of 2.7%. Patients with DHF and AF were older with a higher female ratio with severe restrictive pattern compared with those of SHF. The incidence of AF in the whole study was 35%. The best predictor of AF in HF was left ventricle hypertrophy followed by history of hypertension and DM.

Value of Pulsed Tissue Doppler Imaging in Predicting the Presence of Significant Coronary Artery Insufficiency

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a paramount cause of death. Global and regional left ventricular (LV) systolic function is an important non-invasive marker of CAD. We can use tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to measure the low velocities generated by myocardium which are: S'-wave, E'-wave, and A'-wave. We aimed to examine the value of the S'-wave dispersion of TDI across mitral valve annular velocities to predict angiographically significant coronary artery obstruction. Patients and Methods: We included 100 patients with symptoms suggesting CAD. All patients had undergone full history taken and clinical examination;ECG, echocardiographic with assessment of LV function, and Doppler derived mitral valve velocities;TDI with measuring of S'-wave and coronary angiography. Lesions with ≥70% or more stenosis in major epicardial artery or ≥50% stenosis in the left main coronary artery were considered significant. Patients were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of significant coronary stenosis. Results: Clinical and conventional echocardiographic and Tissue Doppler measures were comparable between the two groups;there was statisticallysignificant difference between Group I and Group II (P value;patients with significant coronary arteries lesions have higher S' wave dispersion as compared with patients with normal or mild significant coronary lesions. Conclusion: S'-wave dispersion may consider a good predictor of angiographically significant coronary artery disease.

Pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia and its investigation by ultrasonic integrated backscatter and Doppler tissue imaging

Objective: To construct an animal model of chronic ischemic myocardium, and evaluate it by ultrasonic integrated backscatter (IBS) and Doppler tissue imaging (DTI). Methods: An Ameroid constrictor was placed around the porcine left circumflex coronary artery (LCX). The calibrated average image intensity (%AII), cyclic variation of IBS (CVIB), transmural gradient index (TGI) of CVIB in lateral-posterior wall (LPW), and DTI spectrum of LPW in left ventricular papillary muscle level short axis view (LVPM-SAM) and apical four chamber view (AP-4CV) at normal state, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks postoperatively were measured. Results: Normal %AII, CVIB and TGI were 2.29±0.32, 9.69±2.22dB and 0.22±0.08, respectively. The %AII increased gradually postoperatively. The CVIB decreased also gradually, and the decrease was higher in subepicardium than in subendocardium. Most of TGI decrease occurred from 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively and became zero at 8 weeks (P<0.01); Normal V S (peak systolic velocity) of AP-4CV was higher than that of LVPM-SAM (P<0.01). V E (peak early diastolic velocity) of AP-4CV was lower than that of LVPM-SAM (P<0.05). V S and V E were all decreased after operation (P<0.01). The decrease of V S in AP-4CV was greater than that in LVPM-SAM. Conclusion: The pathological changes of the myocardium in human ischemic heart disease (IHD) are similar to that of Ameriod model. IBS and DTI can detect echo changes and ventricular wall motion in chronic ischemic myocardium, and provide more information for clinical investigation and treatment of IHD.

Stress doppler echocardiography in connective tissue disease patients without overt pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH) is a common complication of connective tissue disease(CTD) and confers a worse prognosis. Stress doppler echocardiography(SDE) can detect early pulmonary vasculopathy and assess right heart function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. In this study, the SDE was applied to analyze the degree of pulmonary vascular lesion and the function of right heart in CTD patients without overt PAH. Methods CTD patients without overt PAH were divided into exercised-induced pulmonary hypertension(EIPH) group and non-EIPH group depending on whether tricuspid regurgitation(TR) exceeded 3.1 m/s during exercise and assessed by echocardiography at rest and during exercise. The data of right ventricular function and the slope of the incremental of the mean pulmonary artery pressure and cardiac output(ΔmPAP/ΔCO) were analyzed. Results Forty-seven CTD patients without overt PAH(35 female, mean age 40.3±12.0 years) were enrolled and divided into EIPH group(n=21) and non-EIPH group(n=26). Patients with systemic sclerosis(SSc) were more likely to have EIPH(47.6% vs. 28.6%, P<0.05) than those with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). Patients in EIPH group had a higher value of ΔmPAP/ΔCO than that of the non-EIPH group(4.5±3.1 vs. 2.2±1.3, P<0.05). SSc was more prevalent in CTD patients and the symptoms of dyspnea occurred more often in EIPH group(52.4%), indicating a pressure-flow mismatch induced by exercise. However, the cardiac function demonstrated by left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE),DTI-Derived S'-wave velocity(S') and right ventricular fractional area change(RVFAC), as well as functional reserve reflected by the changes of TAPSE, S', RVFAC before and after exercise, did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions Although right ventricular(RV) reserve function does not change much before and after exercise, patients in EIPH group have a higher value of ΔmPAP/ΔCO than that of the non-EIPH group and more likely to have symptoms during exercise. Thus, to assess the potential for pulmonary vascular disease, echocardiography should be performed at rest and during exercise.[S Chin J Cardiol 2019;20(1):31-36]

Tissue Doppler,speckling tracking and four-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function in children with dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND Right ventricular(RV)function is frequently overlooked during dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)evaluation.AIM To evaluate RV function in children with idiopathic DCM using relatively recent echocardiographic modalities.METHODS We prospectively studied the cardiac function in 50 children with idiopathic DCM and 50 healthy children as a control group,using four-dimensional echocardiography(4-DE),Tissue Doppler Imaging(TDI),and two-dimensional-speckles tracking echocardiography(2-D-STE).RV EF was measured by 4-DE.RESULTS The auto left(LV)ejection fractions(EF)measured by 2-D-STE were significantly lower in the patients'group than in the control.The sphericity index was also significantly lower in children with DCM than in the control.RV EF measured by 4-DE was significantly lower in the patient's group than the control.RV S wave,e´/a'ratio,myocardial performance index(MPI),and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)were significantly impaired in children with DCM than in control.Both LV and RV global longitudinal strains(GLS)were significantly reduced in children with DCM than in control.RVGLS was significantly associated with the duration since diagnosis,tricuspid annulus S wave,RV MPI,and TAPSE,but not with the age of the patients,RV EF,or e´/a'ratio.CONCLUSION There was impairment of the RV LGS and other systolic and diastolic parameters in children with DCM.STE and TDI can help to detect the early decline of RV function.

Tissue Doppler Study before and after PCI in Patients with Chronic Stable Angina and Apparent Normal Ventricular Function for Evaluation of Myocardial Function

Background: This study aimed to determine the impact of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on myocardial function assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography. Methods: Conventional two-dimensional echocardiography and Myocardial tissue peak velocities were recorded at the lateral, ant.septal, post.septal, posterior, ant. and inferior angles of the mitral annulus as well as at the lateral tricuspid annulus by pulsed-wave tissue Doppler echocardiography before PCI, as well as 1 day and 6 weeks after intervention. Results: Fifty consecutive patients with chronic stable angina and preserved systolic left ventricular function (mean age, 58.3 ± 6.594 years;32 men) undergoing PCI were studied. Conventional echocardiographic revealed no statistically significant difference between pre- and post-PCI (1 day after PCI and 6 weeks after PCI) as regarding trans-mitral and trans-tricuspid flow velocities except as regarding LVEDD, LVESD and LVEF which showed a significant improvement post-PCI. Compared with pre-interventional values, systolic peak velocity and early diastolic velocities improved at all sites (P ≤ 0.05 for each). The most pronounced improvement occurred in the septal area. Similarly, late diastolic velocities improved at all sites (P ≤ 0.05 for each) except at post Wall A’. Also, there was a significant improvement of E’DT & E’/A’ ratio after PCI (P value is significant <0.05 for each) but there was insignificant difference between pre & post PCI for E/E’ (P-value = 0.154). There was a significant improvement in tissue Doppler measures of early, late diastolic function and E’/A’ at the lateral tricuspid annulus after PCI compared with baseline values (P value is significant <0.05) but there was an insignificant change in tissue Doppler measures at the lateral tricuspid annulus of E’DT & E/E’ after PCI (repeated measures ANOVA P-value is >0.05 for each). There were significant reductions in IVRT, IVCT & MPI after PCI (P value is significant <0.05 for each) but there was insignificant change in ET after PCI (P-value = 0.09) at the septal angle of the mitral annulus and the lateral angle of the tricuspid annulus. Conclusions: Tissue Doppler parameters of diastolic and systolic function improve early after successful PCI, and this effect persists to 6 weeks after the intervention that emphasizes its value in the improvement of regional and global LV functions and myocardial contractility.

Doppler Tissue Imaging Assessment of Left Ventricular Systolic Dyssynchrony in Severe Heart Failure Patients With a Normal QRS Duration

Objectives To assess the prevalence of systolic dyssynchrony of the left ventricular （LV） walls in patients of heart failure（HF） with a normal QRS duration by Doppler tissue imaging （DTI）. Methods 20 patients of HF with a normal QRS duration and 20 healthy individuals were investigated with DTI to quantitatively analyze their pulsed-wave Doppler spectrum of basal and middle segments in six walls of left ventricle. The time between the onset of the QRS complex of the surface ECG and the onset of the systolic wave of pulsed-wave Doppler spectrum was measured （TS）. LV systolic synchronization was assessed by the maximal difference （MD） in time of TS, the standard deviation （SD） and the coefficient of variation （CV） of TS in the all 12 LV segments. Results When a TS-MD of TS〉 53.08 ms, a TS-SD of TS 〉18.08 ms and a TS-CV of TS 〉 0.91 （＋1.65 SD of normal controls） was used to define significant systolic dyssynchrony, the prevalence of systolic dyssynchrony was 55.0 %, 55.0 % and 55.0 %, respectively, in the HF patients group, significantly higher than those in the normal control and the locations of delayed contraction of these patients were different. Conclusions LV systolic dyssynchrony could be commonly demonstrated by DTI in HF patients with a normal QRS duration. This finding will support the view about the possibility that more HF patients could benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Assessment of atrial electromechanical interval using echocardiography after catheter ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

We sought to investigate variation of atrial electromechanical interval after catheter ablation procedure in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation using pulse Doppler（PW） and pulse tissue Doppler imaging（PW-TDI）.A total of 25 consecutive in-patients with persistent atrial fibrillation,who restored sinus rhythm after ablation procedure,were recruited in our cardiac center.Echocardiography was performed on each patient at 2 hours,1 day,5 days,1 month and 3 months after the ablation therapy,and atrial electromechanical delay was measured simultaneously by PW and PW-TDI.There was no significant difference between PW and TDI in measuring atrial electromechanical delay.However,at postoperative 2 hours,peak A detection rates were mathematically but nonsignificantly greater by PWTDI than by PW.Second,there was a significant decreasing trend in atrial electromechanical interval from postoperative 2 hours to 3 months,but only postoperative 2-hour atrial electromechanical interval was significantly greater than atrial electromechanical interval at other time.Lastly,patients without postoperative 2-hour atrial electromechanical interval had a significantly longer duration of atrial fibrillation as compared to those with postoperative 2-hour atrial electromechanical interval,by the PW or by PW-TDI,respectively.In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation,atrial electromechanical interval may decrease significantly within the first 24 hours after ablation but remain consistent later,and was significantly related to patients＇ duration of atrial fibrillation.Atrial electromechanical interval,as a potential predicted factor,is recommended to be measured by either PW or TDI after24 hours,when patients had recovered sinus rhythm by radiofrequency ablation.