Evaluation of cardiac function by tissue Doppler echocardiography: hemodynamic determinants and clinical application.

A total of 32 patients without regional wall motion abnormality of the left ventricle underwent sequential tissue Doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Peak velocities of systolic (Sa), early diastolic (Ea), and late diastolic (Aa) motion of the mitral annulus were measured. Normal references for Sa, Ea and Aa were obtained from 138 volunteers. Indices of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function were evaluated using high-fidelity LV pressure and volume signals. By multivariate analysis, Sa, Ea and As were significantly and independently related to the maximum of the first derivative of pressure over time (dP/dtmax), LV relaxation time constant (τ), and LV ejection fraction (EF), respectively. Using the fifth percentiles of the age-stratified normal references as cut-offs, low Sa, low Ea and low Aa identified declined dP/dtmax, prolonged τ and reduced EF, respectively, with good sensitivities and specificities. In conclusion, mitral annulus velocities by tissue Doppler echocardiography can be used to identify patients with declined dP/dtmax, prolonged τ and reduced EF. (E-mail: chench@vghtpe.gov.tw)