Evaluation of the Diastolic Function of the Left Ventricular by Means of Tissue Doppler

The results of the morphological and functional evaluation of the left ventricular in athletes of different sports disciplines are presented in this paper. The aim of the study was to assess morphological and functional condition of the left ventricular in athletes with the emphasis on the evaluation of the diastolic function including the use of tissue Doppler. Methods: 231 athletes of different sports disciplines were examined. All athletes included in this study underwent comprehensive transthoracal echocardiography by means of Doppler study and tissue Doppler. Results: This study revealed the difference in heart morphology between athletes of different sports disciplines. Parameters of the diastolic function of the left ventricular are not significantly differ between athletes of different sports disciplines. The diastolic function was not impaired in athletes with mild hypertrophy of the left ventricular. Violation of diastolic function occur in athletes with complaints of extreme fatigue after exercise. Method of tissue Doppler allows to detect signs of diastolic function impairment in athletes with formally "normal" mitral blood flow. Conclusions: 1. In athletes with small and border myocardial hypertrophy of the left ventricle is not observed violations of diastolic function of the left ventricular myocardium, which indicates the adaptive nature of the appearance of a small hypertrophy. 2. The authors suggest that the impairment of the diastolic function of the left ventricular is linked with the chronic overload of cardiovascular system. 3. The use of tissue Doppler allows to determine the signs of diastolic function impairment in athletes with visually normal mitral blood flow. 4. The authors consider enough check tissue Doppler imaging speed of displacement of the lateral part of the mitral annulus, since the check in other segments rarely gives new information, significantly extending the time of the study. 5. The authors also suggest that it is necessary to assess diastolic function by means of tissue Doppler in athletes with the E/A ratio less than 1.5.