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Ventricular Relaxation (ventricular + relaxation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	75%

Selected Abstracts

Is Functional Capacity Related to Left Atrial Contractile Function in Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 5 2005
Yukitaka Shizukuda MD
The mechanisms underlying reduced exercise capacity in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NHCM) could include perturbations of ventricular relaxation, diastolic compliance, or compensatory atrial systolic function. We hypothesized that a loss of atrial contractility in NHCM patients leads to reduced functional capacity. To test this hypothesis, we compared resting noninvasive left atrial ejection phase indices in 49 consecutive patients with NHCM (ages 36±10 years; 41% female) and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (mean, 68%±8%) with objective metabolic exercise parameters. Left atrial active emptying fraction, ejection force, and kinetic energy failed to predict exercise capacity. Only left atrial total and active emptying volumes correlated weakly with minute volume/CO2 production slope (r=0.31 and r=0.33; p<0.05 for both). Furthermore, when subjects were stratified by New York Heart Association symptomatology, exercise parameters,but not atrial contractility,differed between groups. These data, obtained at rest, fail to suggest that NHCM-related heart failure symptoms are due to an atrial myopathy. [source]

Differences in Echocardiographic Assessment with Standard Doppler and Tissue Doppler Imaging of Left Ventricular Filling Pressure in Idiopathic and Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2008
Pierluigi Costanzo M.D.
Background: In idiopathic and ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) there are differences in left atrial and ventricular relaxation. We assessed the hypothesis of an influence of these dissimilarities in assessing left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) in these two DCMs by standard Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging. In particular, we focused on early transmitral flow to early diastolic motion velocity of mitral annulus ratio (E/Ea), useful to estimate normal or elevated LVFP. However, when found in intermediate range (8,15), its role is unclear. Methods and Results: We evaluated 26 patients with ischemic and 21 patients with idiopathic DCM. To validate the echocardiographic estimation of LVFP, a sample (12 patients) underwent LVFP assessment by catheterization. In idiopathic DCM, E/Ea directly related to duration of retrograde pulmonary venous flow (ARd) (r = 0.66 P = 0001). In ischemic DCM E/Ea inversely related only to systolic to diastolic velocity ratio of pulmonary venous flow (S/D) (r =,0.56 P = 0002). After a mean follow up of 6 months, by a second echocardiogram we observed a direct relation between E/Ea and ARd percentage variation (r = 0.52 P = 0.02) in idiopathic DCM group, whereas in the ischemic DCM group there was an inverse relation between E/Ea and S/D percentage variation (r =,0.59 P = 0.02).Conclusions: In conclusion, ARd in idiopathic and S/D in ischemic DCM might be used as specific additional information to estimate LVFP when E/Ea falls within intermediate range. [source]

Sex influence on myocardial function with exercise in adolescents

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
Thomas Rowland
Objectives: Ventricular systolic functional response to exercise has been reported to be superior in adult men compared to women. This study explored myocardial responses to maximal upright progressive exercise in late pubertal males and females. Methods: Doppler echocardiographic techniques were utilized to estimate myocardial function response to a bout of progressive cycle exercise. Results: Systolic functional capacity, as indicated by ejection rate (12.5 ± 2.8 and 13.1 ± 1.0 [×10,2] ml s,1 cm,2 for boys and girls, respectively) and peak aortic velocity (208 ± 45 and 196 ± 12 cm s,1, respectively) at maximal exercise, did not differ between the two groups. Similarly, peak values as well as increases in transmitral pressure gradient (mitral E flow velocity), ventricular relaxation (tissue Doppler imaging E,), and left ventricular filling pressure (E/E, ratio) as estimates of diastolic function were similar in males and females. Conclusions: This study failed to reveal qualitative or quantitative differences between adolescent boys and girls in ventricular systolic or diastolic functional responses to maximal cycle exercise. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 22:680,682, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Cardiac diastolic dysfunction in renal-transplant recipients is associated with increased circulating Adrenomedullin

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2006
Bernard Geny
Abstract:, Background:, Renal transplantation is an excellent therapeutic alternative for end-stage renal diseases. Nevertheless, the cardiac function is often impaired in renal-transplant patients (RTR) and importantly determines their prognosis. Adrenomedullin (ADM), a peptide involved in cardiovascular homeostasis, is believed to protect both cardiac and renal functions , by increasing local blood flows, attenuating the progression of vascular damage and remodelling and by reducing glomerular injury , and might be involved in renal-transplantation physiopathology. This work was performed to investigate whether an increase in circulating ADM might be related to RTR cardiac function. Methods:, Twenty-nine subjects, 19 RTR and 10 healthy subjects, participated in the study. After 15 min rest in supine position, heart rate and systemic blood pressure were measured together with cyclosporine through levels, creatinine and ADM. Systolic and diastolic cardiac functions were assessed, using Doppler echocardiography. Results:, Subjects were similar concerning age, weight, heart rate and blood pressure. Creatinine and ADM (53.8±6.9 vs. 27.2±4.1 pmol/L, p = 0.02) were significantly increased in RTR (73±10 months after transplantation). Cardiac systolic function was normal, but a reduced mitral E:A ratio was observed in RTR (0.90±0.06 vs. 1.38±0.10, p<0.001), reflecting their impaired left ventricular relaxation. Such a ratio was negatively correlated with ADM (r = ,0.55, p = 0.002). Conclusions:, RTR present with an increased ADM is likely related to cardiac diastolic dysfunction. In view of its protective effect on the cardiovascular system, these data support further studies to better define the role and the therapeutic potential of ADM after renal transplantation. [source]