Effects of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy on Diastolic Synchrony of Left Ventricular Motion Evaluated by Myocardial Tissue Doppler Imaging

Objective:To assess the effects of ventricular hypertrophy on left ventricular diastolic motion synchrony and diastolic function by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) technique. Methods: Eighteen patients with hypertensive heart disease (HHD), sixteen patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and Eighteen age-matched healthy subjects underwent pulsed TDI. The ventricular septum and the patterns of left ventricular lateral, anterior and inferior wall motion in the atrial-ventricular annulus were recorded. The time dispersion of electromechanical motion at left ventricular diastole and the peak velocity of early diastole (Ve) and late diastole ( Va) at six sites of ventricular septum and left ventricular lateral wall were measured. Results: Compared with control group, time dispersion of electromechanical motion in left ventricular diastole significantly increased in HHD and HCM groups (24. 3±6. 2 ms [ control groups] vs 36. 4±9. 3 ms [ HHD] vs 56.4±15. 9ms [ HCM] ,P 0. 05). Ve in left ventricular different segments in HHD and HCM groups were lower than that of control group. There was significant difference between HHD and HCM groups. Conclusions: Impairment of diastolic synchrony of left ventricular motion and regional diastolic function exists in HCM and HHD patients, and more significantly in HCM patients.