Evaluación ecocardiográfica de pacientes pediátricos post-trasplante cardiaco en Chile: Aplicación inicial de un protocolo funcional con Strain longitudinal global / Echocardiographic evaluation after pediatric heart transplant in Chile: initial application of a functional protocol with global longitudinal strain

Resumen: Introducción: La evaluación ecocardiográfica de pacientes post-trasplante cardiaco pediátrico es una herramienta útil. Sin embargo, aún es necesario definir un protocolo óptimo de seguimiento. Obje tivo: Caracterizar los resultados de la aplicación de un protocolo de evaluación ecocardiográfica fun cional en pacientes en control post-trasplante cardiaco pediátrico ortotópico. Pacientes y Método: Posterior al trasplante cardiaco pediátrico se realizó una ecocardiografía con un protocolo funcional que incluyó strain longitudinal global. Se evaluaron además los datos de la biopsia endomiocárdica y del estudio hemodinámico contemporáneos. Resultados: De un total de 9 pacientes sólo 1 presentó disfunción sistólica de ventrículo izquierdo según parámetros clásicos, pero casi la totalidad presentó un strain longitudinal global alterado. No se observaron episodios de rechazo moderado o severo en estos pacientes. Todos los pacientes presentaban disfunción sistólica ventricular derecha. No se ob servó correlación entre estos parámetros y la presión de arteria pulmonar. Conclusiones: Se observó disfunción sistólica biventricular subclínica en la mayoría de los pacientes de esta serie. No hubo aso ciación con episodios de rechazo o con hipertensión pulmonar, lo que podría estar en relación con la ausencia de episodios de rechazo moderado o severo en la biopsia contemporánea y con el reducido tamaño muestral. Sólo el seguimiento a largo plazo de estos pacientes permitirá definir la relevancia clínica de los hallazgos descritos.

Abstract: Introduction: The echocardiographic evaluation of patients after heart transplantation is a useful tool. However, it is still necessary to define an optimal follow-up protocol. Objective: To describe the results of the application of a functional echocardiographic protocol in patients being followed after pediatric heart transplantation. Patients and Method: Alls patients being followed at our institution after pediatric heart transplantation underwent an echocardiographic examination with a functional protocol that included global longitudinal strain. Contemporaneous endomyocardial biopsy results and hemodynamic data were recorded. Results: 9 patients were evaluated with our echocardiographic functional protocol. Of these patients, only 1 showed systolic left ventricular dysfunction according to classic parameters. However, almost all patients had an abnormal global longitudinal strain. Right ventricular systolic dysfunction was observed in all patients. No epidodes of moderate to severe rejectiom were recorded. No correlation was observed between these parameters and pulmonary artery pressure. Conclusions: Subclinical biventricular systolic dysfunction was observed in the majority of the patients in this study. No association with rejection episodes or pulmonary hypertension was observed, which may be related to the absence of moderate or severe rejection episodes during the study period, and to the small sample size. Long term follow-up of these patients may better define the clinical relevance of our findings.

Doppler echocardiographic criteria in patency assessment of composite grafts from left internal thoracic artery / Parâmetros Dopplerfluxométricos de perviedade do enxerto composto de artéria torácica interna esquerda

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to establish, with an entirely noninvasive method, transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, criteria for patency of composite left internal thoracic artery grafts when placed on the left anterior descending artery and other branches of the left coronary system. METHODS: The control group comprised 20 patients with single graft and 20 patients with composite graft; all forty having their patency confirmed by coronary angiogram (CA). In this control group, two Doppler echocardiographic variables, diastolic mean velocity-time and integral diastolic peak velocity to systolic peak velocity ratio were recorded. For each variable, established cut-off points were established, using the ROC (Receiver Operator Characteristic) curves, to identify criteria which could differentiate the composite grafts. Only patients with composite grafts were included in the 159-patients study group. The criteria established by the cut-off points in the control group were then applied to detect patency using a diastolic fraction of > 0.5 as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of these two criteria were determined. RESULTS: In the control group, cut-off points of 0.71 and 0.09m were established for the diastolic peak velocity/systolic peak velocity ratio and for diastolic mean velocity-time integral, respectively. In the study group phase, the sensitivity and negative predictive value of the diastolic peak velocity/systolic peak velocity > 0.71 criterion were 36% and 11%, respectively. Diastolic mean velocity-time integral > 0.09m criterion, were 40% and 10.48%. The specificities and positive predictive values of each criterion were 100%. CONCLUSION: Values reaching the criteria established for each variable indicate high probability of composite graft patency. Lower values have a large proportion of false negatives and are not conclusive as patency criteria.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é estabelecer parâmetros preditores de perviedade, avaliados por Dopplerfluxometria, do enxerto composto de artéria torácica interna esquerda, quando revasculariza a artéria interventricular anterior e outro ramo do sistema esquerdo. MÉTODOS: O grupo controle foi formado por 20 pacientes com enxerto simples e 20 pacientes com enxerto, composto cuja perviedade foi confirmada por cineangiocoronariografia. No grupo controle, as variáveis de fluxo relação velocidade pico diastólico/velocidade pico sistólico e integral da velocidade média/tempo na diástole foram registradas. Para cada variável, estabeleceram-se pontos de corte para identificar enxertos compostos, usando-se curvas ROC (receiver operator characteristic). No grupo estudo, foram avaliados 159 pacientes com enxerto composto, determinando-se os dois parâmetros de fluxo. Pontos de cortes estabelecidos no grupo controle foram usados para determinar sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos positivo e negativo de cada variável relacionada à perviedade dos enxertos, tomando-se como referência a fração diastólica > 0,5. RESULTADOS: No grupo controle, os pontos de corte estabelecidos para as variáveis velocidade pico diastólico/velocidade pico sistólico e integral velocidade média/tempo na diástole foram, respectivamente, 0,71 e 0,09m. No grupo estudo, a sensibilidade para a velocidade pico diastólico/velocidade pico sistólico e integral da velocidade média/tempo na diástole, considerando seus pontos de corte, foi de 36,4% e 40%, respectivamente. Os respectivos valores preditivos negativos foram 11% e 10.48%, enquanto especificidade e valor preditivo positivo foram de 100% para os dois parâmetros. CONCLUSÃO: Valores maiores ou iguais aos estabelecidos para cada variável indicam alta probabilidade de perviedade do enxerto composto. Valores inferiores apresentam grande proporção de falsos negativos, não sendo conclusivos quanto à perviedade.

Efficacy of echocardiographic criteria for diagnosis of carditis in acute rheumatic fever.

Background: There is a great need forECHOcriteria for accurate diagnosis of carditis in acute rheumatic fever. Aim: To propose and test the efficacy of ECHO criteria for accurate diagnosis of carditis. Material and Methods: The 333 cases underwent detailed clinical examination, laboratory tests and meticulous Echocardiographic study.Vijay’s ECHO criteria for the diagnosis of carditis / subclinical valvulitis was used. 220 (66.06%) cases were both Jones’ positive and ECHO positive [True +ve], 52 cases (15.61%), probably had subclinical carditis as murmur was not heard (Jones’-ve) but ECHO was positive [False - ve]. Four cases, clinically diagnosed as carditis were Jones’+ve ,but ECHO showed congenital heart disease [False +ve]. 57 cases (17.11%) were clinically , echocardiographically and Jones’ negative were taken as control (True –ve). Sensitivity is81%and specificity is 93%. Conclusions: Precise diagnosis of both carditis /subclinical valvulitis is possible with Vijay’s ECHO criteria. ECHO should be included as a major criterion in Jones’criteria.

Ecocardiografia-doppler e parâmetros hemodinâmicos em cardiopatias congênitas com hiperfluxo pulmonar / Doppler echocardiography and hemodynamic parameters in congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary flow

FUNDAMENTO: A predição de dados de hemodinâmica pulmonar, a partir de avaliação não invasiva, poderia isentar alguns portadores de defeitos septais cardíacos congênitos da avaliação invasiva pré-operatória (cateterismo). OBJETIVO: Verificar, em avaliação simultânea, se dados obtidos pela ecocardiografia-Doppler poderiam predizer aspectos da condição hemodinâmica pulmonar em tais pacientes. MÉTODOS: Parâmetros ecocardiográficos relacionados ao fluxo sistólico pulmonar e sistêmico e ao fluxo em veia pulmonar foram relacionados a dados hemodinâmicos em 30 pacientes consecutivos com defeitos septais cardíacos (idade entre 4 meses e 58 anos, mediana 2,2 anos; pressão arterial pulmonar média entre 16 e 93 mmHg). RESULTADOS: As variáveis integral velocidade-tempo do fluxo sistólico em via de saída de ventrículo direito (VTI VSVD > 22 cm) e do fluxo em veia pulmonar (VTI VP > 20 cm) foram preditivos de níveis RVP/RVS <; 0,1 (relação entre resistências vasculares pulmonar e sistêmica), com especificidade de 0,81 e razão de chances acima de 1,0. Para valores VTI VSVD > 27 cm e VTI VP > 24 cm, a especificidade foi superior a 0,90 e a razão de chances 2,29 e 4,47 respectivamente. A razão entre os fluxos pulmonar e sistêmico (Qp/Qs > 2,89 e > 4,0, estimativas ecocardiográficas) foi útil na predição de valores Qp/Qs > 3,0 pelo cateterismo (especificidade de 0,78 e 0,91, razão de chances 1,14 e 2,97, respectivamente). CONCLUSÃO: Em portadores de defeitos septais cardíacos, a ecocardiografia-Doppler é capaz de identificar aqueles em situação de aumento de fluxo e baixos níveis de resistência vascular pulmonar.

BACKGROUND: The prediction of pulmonary hemodynamic data from non-invasive assessment could exempt some patients with congenital cardiac septal defects from preoperative invasive assessment (catheterization). OBJECTIVE: To determine, in simultaneous assessment, whether data obtained from Doppler echocardiography could predict aspects of pulmonary hemodynamics in such patients. METHODS: Echocardiographic parameters related to systolic and systemic pulmonary flow and pulmonary venous flow were related to hemodynamic data in 30 consecutive patients with cardiac septal defects (aged 4 months to 58 years, median 2.2 years, mean pulmonary artery pressure between 16 and 93 mmHg). RESULTS: The velocity-time integrals of systolic flow in right ventricle outflow tract (VTI RVOT > 22 cm) and pulmonary venous flow (VTI VP > 20 cm) predicted PVR/SVR <; 0.1 levels (pulmonary vascular resistance and systemic vascular resistance ratio), with a specificity of 0.81 and odds ratio above 1.0. For VTI RVOT > 27 cm and VTI PV > 24 cm values, the specificity was higher than 0.90 and odds ratio 2.29 and 4.47 respectively. The ratio between pulmonary and systemic flows (Qp/Qs > 2.89 and > 4.0, echocardiographic estimates) was useful in predicting Qp/Qs > 3.0 values through catheterization (specificity of 0.78 and 0.91, odds ratio 1.14 and 2.97, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients with cardiac septal defects, Doppler echocardiography is able to identify those at increased flow and low pulmonary vascular resistance.

Alterações ecocardiográficas em pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica em programa de hemodiálise: [revisão] / Echocardiographic alterations in patients with chronic kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis: [review] / Alteraciones ecocardiográficas en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica en programa de hemodiálisis: [revisión]

Alterações de estrutura e função cardíacas detectadas pela ecocardiografia são comuns em pacientes com doença renal crônica em hemodiálise e predizem um pior prognóstico. Esta revisão aborda recentes evidências da utilidade do método na detecção da disfunção cardíaca clínica e subclínica, estratificação do risco cardiovascular e avaliação das estratégias de intervenção terapêutica.

Changes in cardiac structure and function detected by echocardiography are common in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis, and have been recognized as key outcome predictors. This review attempts to summarize recent evidence pointing to the usefulness of the method in the detection of clinical and subclinical cardiac dysfunction, stratification of cardiovascular risk and assessment of intervention strategies.

Alteraciones de estructura y función cardíacas detectadas por ecocardiografía son comunes en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis y predicen un peor pronóstico. Esta revisión aborda recientes evidencias de la utilidad del método en la detección de la disfunción cardíaca clínica y subclínica, estratificación del riesgo cardiovascular y evaluación de las estrategias de intervención terapéutica.

Internal thoracic artery graft (ITAG): patency and functional status at rest and during dobutamine-stress echocardiography / Artéria torácica interna enxertada: patência e estado funcional em repouso e após dobutamina

FUNDAMENTO: A artéria torácica interna enxertada (ATIE) patente usualmente tem fração diastólica (FD)> 50 por cento do fluxo. O estado funcional pode ser avaliado pelo índice de reserva coronariano (IRC). OBJETIVO: Avaliar, pela ecocardiografia e pelo Doppler em nível supraclavicular, a patência e o estado funcional da ATIE. MÉTODOS: Foram coletados prospectivamente e analisados os dados de 66 pacientes submetidos a ecocardiograma sob estresse com dobutamina (EED). O grupo I (GI) ocorreu com 49 ATIE sem estenose. No grupo II (GII) (10 ATIE) havia estenose significativa (> 50 por cento e <100 por cento). E no grupo III (GIII) (7 ATIE) a oclusão era de 100 por cento. Foram avaliados diâmetros e espectros do Doppler das ATIE no repouso e EED. RESULTADOS: Considerando patência uma FD>50 por cento, ocorreu em 49 ATIE (GI=40, GII=8 e GIII=1) no repouso e em 61 ATIE (GI=49, GII=10 e GIII=2) durante EED. Sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo (VPP), valor preditivo negativo (VPN) e acurácia foram, respectivamente, em repouso, 81 por cento, 86 por cento ,98 por cento, 35 por cento e 82 por cento; e no EED, 100 por cento, 71 por cento, 97 por cento, 100 por cento e 97 por cento. As ATIE com FD>50 por cento em repouso estavam patentes e as com FD<50 por cento no EED tinham oclusão total. Considerando para bom estado funcional um IRC>1,8, isso ocorreu em 42 ATIE (39 do GI, 2 do GII e 1 GIII), verificando-se sensibilidade = 79 por cento; especificidade = 85,7 por cento; VPP = 94 por cento; VPN = 59 por cento; e acurácia = 80,9 por cento. O IRC no GI foi maior (p=0,02) que em GII e GIII. CONCLUSÃO: Em nosso estudo, a avaliação não-invasiva da ATIE foi efetiva para verificar patência e estado funcional.

BACKGROUND: The patent internal thoracic artery graft (ITAG) usually has a diastolic fraction (DF) > 50 percent of the flow. The functional assessment can be evaluated by the coronary reserve index (CRI). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the patency and functional status of the ITAG through echocardiography and Doppler. METHODS: Data from sixty-six patients who underwent dobutamine-stress echocardiography (DSE) were prospectively collected and analyzed. Group I (GI) had 49 ITAG without stenosis, Group II (GII), 10 ITAG with significant stenosis (> 50 percent and <100 percent) and Group III (GIII) had 7 ITAG with total occlusion. Diameters and Doppler spectrums from the ITAG at rest and during DSE were evaluated. RESULTS: Considering patency a DF >50 percent, it was observed in 49 ITAG (GI= 40, GII= 8 and GIII= 1) at rest and in 61 ITAG (GI=49, GII=10 and GIII=2) during DSE. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy were respectively, 81 percent, 86 percent, 98 percent, 35 percent and 82 percent, and 100 percent, at rest and 71 percent, 97 percent, 100 percent and 97 percent in the DSE. The ITAG with DF>50 percent at rest were patent and the ones with DF<50 percent in the DSE presented total occlusion. Considering a CRI>1.8 for a good functional status, it was observed in 42 ITAG (39 from GI, 2 from GII and 1 from GIII), determining sensitivity=79 percent, specificity=85.7 percent, PPV=94 percent, NPV=59 percent and accuracy= 80.9 percent. The CRI in GI was higher (p= 0.02) than in GII or GIII. CONCLUSION: In our study, the non-invasive assessment of the ITAG was effective to verify the patency and the functional status.

Determinación y análisis comparativo de gasto cardíaco en enfermos críticos mediante Doppler transesofágico y termodilución en bolos: Experiencia preliminar / Comparison of cardiac output measurement in critical patients using transesophageal Doppler or thermodilution: A preliminary report

Background: Cardiac output can be measured non invasively by transesophageal Doppler. This is an alternative to measure it by thermodilution with a catheter in the pulmonary artery. Aim: To compare both methods of cardiac output measurement. Material and methods: Simultaneous measurement of cardiac output by transesophageal Doppler and thermodilution with a catheter in the pulmonary artery in four male critical patients, aged 60±12 years, hospitalized in a University Hospital. The Bland and Altman method to compare the concordance between two measurements, was used. Results: Forty measurements were performed. The results of both methods had a correlation coefficient of 0.98. According to the Bland and Altman method, the difference between both methods was -0.5 L with a precision of 0.52 L/min (95% confidence interval -1.51 to 0.52 L/min). Considering that a change between two sequential measurements is considered significant when the difference is more than 15%, both measurements agreed in 83% of cases, that there was a change in cardiac output. Conclusions:Transesophageal Doppler is a promising non invasive technique to measure cardiac output in critical care patients. It becomes a valid alternative to the thermodilution technique. This preliminary experience must be confirmed in a larger series.

O papel do ecocardiograma como método isolado na indicação cirúrgica de pacientes portadores de cardiopatia congênita / The role of echocardiography as an isolated method for indicating surgery in patients with congenital heart disease

OBJETIVO: Determinar a acurácia diagnóstica do ecocardiograma, analisando prospectivamente, o valor do método na indicação cirúrgica sem cateterismo em portadores de cardiopatia congênita, através da comparação do diagnóstico ecocardiográfico com os achados intra-operatórios e/ou do estudo invasivo. MÉTODOS: De fevereiro/2000 a janeiro/2001, foram acompanhados 493 pacientes cardiopatas congênitos com indicação cirúrgica, submetidos a ecocardiograma com mapeamento de fluxo em cores para decisão terapêutica. Os resultados foram comparados aos achados cirúrgicos e/ou de cateterismo quando realizado para complementação diagnóstica. RESULTADOS: Dos pacientes estudados, 94,3 por cento (465 casos) foram submetidos à correção da cardiopatia congênita apenas com o ecocardiograma e sem cateterismo diagnóstico. O estudo invasivo foi realizado para complementação diagnóstica em 28 (5,6 por cento) casos, o tratamento cirúrgico realizado em mais de 95 por cento dos casos e o cateterismo terapêutico em 3,6 por cento. Os achados do ecocardiograma se confirmaram em 464 (94,1 por cento) dos casos, demonstrando uma alta acurácia do método. Ocorreram 8 (1,6 por cento) casos de falso positivos e 39 (7,9 por cento) casos de falso negativos. Segundo os cirurgiões, nenhum dos erros diagnósticos levaram a complicações ou afetaram os resultados cirúrgicos adversamente. CONCLUSAO: O ecocardiograma se mostrou método sensível e seguro para indicação cirúrgica, dispensando, muitas vezes, a realização de estudo invasivo, ficando este, restrito aos casos de complementação diagnóstica ou terapêutica.

Doppler aortic flow velocity measurement in healthy children

To determine normal values for Doppler parameters of left ventricular function, ascending aortic blood flow velocity was measured by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography in 63 healthy children with body surface area (BSA) <1 m(2) (age <10 yr). Peak velocity was independent of sex, but increased with body size. Mean acceleration was related to peak velocity (r=0.75, p<0.0001). Both stroke distance and ejection time had strong negative correlations with heart rate and positive correlations with BSA, suggesting that these parameters should be evaluated in relation to heart rate and body size. Mean intra- and interobserver variability for peak velocity, ejection time, stroke and minute distance ranged from 3 to 7%, whereas variability for acceleration time was 9 to 13%. These data may be used as reference values for the assessment of hemodynamic states in young children with cardiac disease.

Assessment of coronary flow reserve with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography: comparison with intracoronary Doppler method

To evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) as a non-invasive method in recording distal anterior descending (LAD) coronary flow velocity, we compared coronary flow reserve (CFR) measured by TTDE with measurements by intracoronary Doppler wire (ICDW). Twenty-one patients without LAD stenosis were studied. ICDW performed at baseline and after intracoronary injection of 18 microg adenosine. TTDE was performed at baseline and after intravenous adenosine (140 microg/kgmin for 2 min). Adequate Doppler recordings of coronary flow velocities during systole were obtained in 14 of 21 study patients (67%) and during diastole in 17 (81%) patients. Baseline and hyperemic peak diastolic flow velocities measured by TTDE were significantly smaller than those obtained by ICDW (p<0.05). However, diminishing trends of diastolic and systolic velocity ratio after hyperemia were similarly observed in both methods. CFR obtained by TTDE (3.0+/-0.5), was higher than the value calculated by ICDW (2.5+/-0.4). There were significant correlations between the values obtained by the two methods (r=0.72, p<0.01). It is concluded that TTDE is a feasible method in measuring coronary flow velocity and appears to be a promising non-invasive method in evaluating CFR.

Comparison of two continuous wave doppler-echo methods in assessment of right-side intracardiac pressure: validation by simultaneous catheterization

Determination of right-side intracardiac pressures is important in clinical decision-making, evaluation of therapeutic interventions and postoperative follow-up in many cardiac diseases. To compare two methods [transseptal gradient and transtricuspid gradient] respectively with invasive measurements in the same patient, continuous wave Doppler-echo and left and right catheterization were performed in 27 patients with congenital ventricular septal defects and associated tricuspid regurgitation. Right ventricular and pulmonary artery systolic pressures were respectively estimated by subtracting transseptal peak gradient from systolic blood pressure or by maximal tricuspid regurgitant gradient plus assumed right atrial pressure. There were high correlations [r=0.944, Standard estimate error [SEE]=4.9 mmHg and r=0.932, SEE=5.6 mmHg] between transseptal method and invasive results, and excellent correlations [r=0.981, SEE=2.6 mmHg and r=0.983, SEE=2.8 mmHg] were also observed between transtricuspid method and catheter measurements. The present report further demonstrated that the Doppler technique was a reliable and accurate method in assessment of right ventricular and pulmonary artery systolic pressures, and the different Doppler method possessed its practical value and offered the alternative way in particular clinical status

Doppler echocardiographic predictions of pulmonary artery pressure in children with congenital heart disease.

Continuous wave Doppler echocardiography was used to examine the accuracy of predictions of pulmonary artery pressure by means of main pulmonary artery flow velocity in children with congenital heart disease, without pulmonary stenosis. The ratio of acceleration time to ejection time (AT/ET) was correlated to catheterized mean pulmonary artery pressure. The result was: mean pulmonary pressure equal to 120-2.4 (AT/ET x 100), r = 0.92, SEE = 7.9 mmHg, P value less than 10(-6). We then used this equation prospectively to predict mean pulmonary artery pressure in 20 children. The result was: catheterized mean pulmonary artery pressure equal to 0.9 predicted pressure minus 0.3, r = 0.94, SEE = 4.8 mmHg, 95 per cent confidence limit interval of X coefficient was 0.8 to 1.2. This result suggested that continuous wave Doppler predictions of pulmonary artery pressure correlate significantly with values subsequently obtained at catheterization.

Deteccion de las alteraciones de la funcion diastolica en hipertension arterial mediante ecocardiografia doppler y medicina nuclear / Detection of diastolic function alterations in arterial hypertension by doppler echocardiography and nuclear medicine

Conscientes de la importancia de las alteraciones de la relajacion y de la adaptabilidad ventriculares como componentes de la cardiopatia hipertensiva, estudiamos 12 pacientes con hipertension arterial leve y 12 hipertensos severos. Doce voluntarios sanos conformaron el grupo control. A cada uno se le realizo ecocardiograma Doppler y con base en el registro de flujo mitral se determinaron los intervalos de relajacion isometrica (RI) y de aceleracion mitral (TA) y las velocidades diastolicas temprana (E) y tardia (A). Por medicina nuclear se determino el teimpo de llenado rapido (TLLR). Encontramos los siguientes valores normales: RI=76+-26.3, TA=70+-12.2, E=63+-13.6, A=33.3+-10.7, TLLR=145.5+-29.6. El periodo de RI estaba prolongado en los hipertensos leves (96.7+-18, p<0.05) y severos (85+-30). La alteracion mas significativa fue un gran incremento en la velocidad A en los hipertensos leves (66+-16) y severos )79+-25), elevando la proporcion A/E hasta valores superiores a 1 (p<0.001). Establecemos, por primera vez en nuestro medio, valores normales de funcion diastolica. En la hipertension arterial estos se alteran precozmente, elevandose la velocidad A y la proporcion A/E y tambien se prolonga el periodo RI