Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function by Doppler tissue imaging in patients with hypertension

Objective To evaluate the value of Doppler tissue imaging in detecting left ventricular diastolic function in arterial hypertension with and without myocardial hypertrophy by comparing the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.Methods Fifty hypertension patients with or without left ventricular hypertrophy,and twenty-three healthy age-and sex-matched control subjects were studied.The hypertension patients were divided into two subgroups according to the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy.The standard 2D echocardiography,standard Doppler and Doppler tissue imaging were performed.Early diastolic velocities(Ve),late diastolic velocities(Va) were measured by Doppler tissue imaging.Transmitral diastolic early-to-late filling velocities(E and A) were also assessed by conventional Doppler.Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was measured invasively with fluid-filled catheter.Results As compared to control group,there was a significant decrease in Ve/Va ratio in hypertension patients.A further decrease in the ratio of Ve/Va was seen in left ventricular hypertrophy as compared with non-left ventricular hypertrophy(P0.05).There was a close correlation between interventricular septum diameter and Ve/Va or E/A(P0.05,r=-0.77 and-0.70,respectively).The relation of Ve/Va and interventricular septum diameter was more close than that of E/A and interventricnlar septum diameter(P0.05).Conclusion Doppler tissue imaging could provide reliable parameters to evaluate left ventricular diastolic function.