Effect of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function on Atrial Electromechanical Time in Patients with Hypertension

Objective To investigate the effect of left ventricular diastolic function on atrial electromechanical time in patients with hypertension by tissue Doppler imaging(TDI). MethodsNinety patients of essential hypertension were enrolled. Based on the stage of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (mitral and pulmonary venous flows), these patients were categorized into three groups: normal filling pattern (NF group, 32 cases), impaired relaxation (IR group, 28 cases) and pseudonormal/restrictive filling (PN/R group, 30 cases). Atrial electromechanical time was acquired by determination of TDI (P-A). LP-A was defined as the onset of P wave to the onset of mitral Aa, while RP-A as the onset of P wave to the onset of tricuspid Aa. Results Compared with IR group, LP-A and RP-A in patients of PN/R group were longer (LP-A, IR:74.1±11.6 vs PN/R:83.1±13.7 ms and RP-A, IR:40.3±10.5 vs PN/R:47.7±10.4 ms respectively, P0.05). Significant differences in LP-A and RP-A between NF group and IR group were found(P0.05). ConclusionAtrial electromechanical time in patients with essential hypertension is increased in associated with the developement of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which is significantly longer in patients with pseudonormal/restrictive filling. This marks may be complementary to other indices of ultrasonic diagnosed ventriculer diastolic dysfunction.