Correlation of the M-mode atrioventricular plane early diastolic downward slope and systolic parameters. Coupling of LV systolic and early diastolic function.

BACKGROUND: The early diastolic downward slope (EDS) of the left atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) is a parameter of early left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling, particularly useful in revealing pseudonormalisation of the transmitral Doppler early to atrial (E/A) ratio. In recent studies LV early diastolic function seems to be closely linked to LV systolic function. In order to further examine this relationship we studied the correlation between EDS and traditional Doppler parameters of LV diastolic function as well as between EDS and systolic parameters. METHODS: LV diastolic function was assessed by echocardiography/Doppler in 62 consecutive patients by measurement of EDS and using a traditional four-grade scale based on a combination of the E/A ratio, the E-wave deceleration time (Edt), and the systolic/diastolic ratio of the pulmonary venous inflow (S/D). LV systolic function was evaluated by ejection fraction (LVEF) and AVPD. EDS was assessed from AVPD registrations. RESULTS: In univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), EDS was not significantly related to overall diastolic function, but highly significantly related to both LVEF (p = 0.001) and AVPD (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: EDS was more closely related to LV systolic parameters than to LV diastolic function assessed traditionally by Doppler, using a combination of E/A, Edt and S/D. This relationship between the early filling of the LV and the LV systolic function is in line with some earlier findings. It is suggestive of a relationship between the systolic and early diastolic performance of the LV.

Echocardiographic assessment of left atrioventricular plane displacement as a complement to left ventricular regional wall motion evaluation in the detection of myocardial dysfunction.

AIM: We aimed to find out if abnormal left atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) is a sign of myocardial dysfunction, even in patients with normal left ventricular (LV) regional wall motion (RWM). METHODS: We prospectively performed echocardiography in 1350 consecutive patients referred to our echocardiography laboratory. Left AVPD and LV RWM were evaluated in all patients. We prospectively selected all patients with normal LV RWM but impaired left AVPD for further analysis of clinical parameters. RESULTS: Eighty-eight of the 1350 patients had completely normal LV RWM but impaired left AVPD (< or = 10 mm) in at least one region (septal, lateral, posterior, anterior). Of these, 60.2% had prior and/ or acute myocardial infarction, predominantly non-Q-wave, whereas 33.0% had angina without infarction and 2.3% had hypertension. In 49 (55.7%) patients coronary angiography was performed. All were abnormal. In 4.5% (n = 4) of the patients no obvious reason for the AVPD decrease was found, but was not precluded. CONCLUSION: Almost all patients with abnormal left AVPD and completely normal LV RWM had clinical cardiac disease. Thus, decreased AVPD despite normal LV RWM seems to be a true sign of myocardial dysfunction, predominantly indicating subendocardial dysfunction. In screening for patients with myocardial dysfunction assessment of left AVPD may be useful as a complement to LV RWM evaluation. The prognosis in such patients is currently being evaluated.

Prognostication and risk stratification by assessment of left atrioventricular plane displacement in patients with myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Mean left atrioventricular plane displacement is strongly related to prognosis in patients with heart failure. We aimed to examine its value for prognostication and risk stratification in patients hospitalised for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Left atrioventricular plane displacement was assessed by echocardiography in 271 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction. Mean prospective follow-up was 628 days. Atrioventricular plane displacement was readily assessed in all patients and was significantly lower in patients who died (n=41, 15.1%) compared to the survivors: 8.2(5.6) v. 10.0(5.5) mm, P<0.0001. Overall mortality was 31.3% in the lowest quartile with regard to atrioventricular plane displacement (<8.00 mm) and 10.1% in the combined upper three quartiles. Thus, the hazard ratio for an atrioventricular plane displacement <8.0 mm compared to 8 mm or more was 3.1, P=0.0001. The combined mortality/heart failure hospitalisation incidence was 43.8% in the lowest and 14.6% in the combined upper three quartiles: Risk ratio 3.0, P<0.0001. In multivariate analysis, including age and history of atrial fibrillation, left atrioventricular plane displacement was an independent prognostic marker. CONCLUSION: In post-myocardial infarction patients, echocardiographic assessment of atrioventricular plane displacement showed a strong, independent prognostic value. Determination of left atrioventricular plane displacement can be readily performed in virtually all patients, and may in clinical practice facilitate identification of high-risk patients.