Evaluation of Left Ventricle Diastolic Function by Color M-Mode Doppler Echocardiography in Coronary Artery Disease

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the usefulness of the propagation velocity (Vp) measured by transthoracic color M-mode Doppler in patients with coronary artery disease and compare Vp with conventional diastolic function index using transmitral and pulmonary vein flow. METHODS: Study subjects were classified into two groups according to the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) 44 subjects (MF=2222, mean age 63+/-12 yrs) with CAD (AMI; n=13 , unstable angina; n=5, stable angina; n=26); 31 normal subjects (MF=1318, mean age 43+/-15 yrs). Vp of early flow into left ventricular cavity measured by color M-mode Doppler was proposed as an index of left ventricular diastolic function. Vp was compared with conventional diastolic function index. RESULTS: 1. Vp in CAD patients (32.8+/-9.1 cm/sec) was lower than control (63.6+/-14.1 cm/sec)(p>0.01). Among CAD patients, Vp in CAD patients (30.1+/-8.6 cm/sec) with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was lower than Vp in CAD patients without LVH (35.9+/-8.9 cm/sec)(p>0.01). 2. Vp was correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.602, p>0.01), with D wave of pulmonary vein flow (r=0.540, p>0.01) and with E/A velocity ratio of mitral inflow (r=0.517, p>0.01) and negatively correlated with left ventricular mass index (r=-0.576, p>0.01). CONCLUSION: The propagation velocity measured by color M-mode Doppler is a useful index for evaluation of diastolic function of left ventricle in the patients with coronary artery disease.