Assessing Diastolic Function with Doppler Echocardiography Using a Novel Index

• Published in: Journal of veterinary medical science Vol. 70; no. 4; p. 359
• Main Authors: HORI, Yasutomo, KANAI, Kazutaka, NAKAO, Ruriko, HOSHI, Fumio, HIGUCHI, Sei-ichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Science and Technology Agency 01.04.2008
• ISSN: 0916-7250

We developed a novel index to assess left ventricular (LV) relaxation as the ratio of transmitral early diastolic velocity to pulmonary diastolic velocity (E/D ratio). Mixed breed dogs (n=7) were anesthetized and their respiration was controlled. A 3.5-Fr micromanometer-tipped catheter was placed into the left ventricle. Dobutamine (5.0 or 10 μg/kg/min) or esmolol (100 or 500 μg/kg/min) was administered via the cephalic vein. The transmitral flow (TMF) and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) were recorded using transthoracic echocardiography from the apical long-axis view. The heart rate, systolic LV pressure, +dP/dt, and -dP/dt were significantly elevated by dobutamine, but significantly reduced by esmolol. Dobutamine significantly decreased τ, whereas esmolol significantly increased τ. The TMF-derived E and PVF-derived D wave velocities increased significantly with dobutamine, but decreased significantly with esmolol. A significant correlation was detected between the E and D wave velocities (r=0.92). Consequently, the E/D ratio was decreased significantly with dobutamine, and increased significantly with esmolol. Furthermore, the E/D ratio was significantly correlated with -dP/dt (r= -0.64) and τ (r=0.84). Our results suggest that the E/D ratio reflects LV relaxation, and may potentially provide further information on LV relaxation.