Value of Doppler tissue imaging in differentiating physiologic hypertrophyin athletes and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension patients

Objective: This study was performed to distinguish physiologic left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy in athletes and in patients from hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) to assess the myocardial systolic and diastolic function by Doppler tissue imaging(DTI). Methods: In 22 normal subjects and 28 patients with hypertension and LVH and 8 elite athletes with myocardial hypertrophy, the motion of interventricular septum(IVS) and left posterior ventricular wall(LPVW) were assessed by DTI. Some parameters such as systolic peak velocity(Vs), early-diastolic and late-diastolic peak velocity(Ve, Va respectively), velocity difference(ΔV) and velocity gradient(VG) between endocardium and epicardium, VeVa ratio, isovolumic contraction time and isovolumic relaxation time(IVCT, IVRT respectively) were measured. Results: No significant difference was observed between normal subjects and the athletes with respect to Vs, Ve, ΔV, VG. The Ve, ΔVe and VGe of the LPVW and IVS in LVH group were significantly lower than those of normal subjects and athletes. Conclusion: We can use DTI to distinguish hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy in patients and physiologic myocardial hypertrophy in athletes and to assess the function of left ventricle.