Evaluation of the left ventricular diastolic synchrony in patients with congestive heart failure using tissue Doppler imaging

Objective: To evaluate left ventricular(LV) diastolic synchrony in patients with congestive heart failure(CHF) using tissue Doppler imaging(TDI). Methods: The TDI examination was performed in 74 patients with CHF, and 62 controls. The maximal difference(Dif) and standard deviation(SD) of the time to the peak early diastolic relaxation(TE-Dif and TE-SD) were measured. And the ratio of the early trans-mitral flow velocity and the early diastolic velocity of mitral valve annulus(E/E’) were assessed as diastolic function index. Results: The TE-Dif and TE-SD were significantly longer, and E/E’ was larger in patients with CHF than in controls. And a larger E/E’ was the independent predictor of diastolic synchrony. Conclusions: LV diastolic synchrony is common in patients with CHF. TDI is a useful and reliable technique for detecting diastolic synchrony.