Doppler Tissue Imaging of Mitral Annulus in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Objective: To study the motion of mitral annulus by using pulse doppler tissue imaging(DTI PWD). Methods: Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), mitral inflow peak velocity(E,A), and mitral annular velocity(Sa, Ea, Aa) were measured with DTI PWD in 20 patients with coronary heart disease(CHD) and 20 normal subjects. Results: The spectrum pattern was similar in CHD group and normal group with three main waves in each cardiac cycle: Sa in systolic and Ea, Aa in diastolic. The peak velocities of Sa and Ea were significant lower as well as Ea/Aa ratio in CHD patients than that in normal group. The on sets of Ea were earlier than E in 95% normal subjects while in CHD group the on sets of Ea were later than E in 70% cases. Conclusion: Changes of mitral annulus motion spectrum derived from DTI PWD can reflect systolic and diastolic dysfunction of left ventricle, as well as they can provide information of mechanical abnormality.