Background Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) is a well-known surrogate measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and prognostic factor for many cardiac conditions. However, little is known about its role in assessing LV diastolic function; we therefore sought to identify potential determinants of MAPSE in patients with LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). Methods Our echocardiographic database was queried for studies of patients with normal sinus. Patients were allocated into three groups: LVDD 0, LVDD 1 and LVDD 2 in accordance with LVDD stages recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. Results A total of 107 echocardiographic studies were included in the study. The mean MAPSE was 1.22 ± 0.32 cm. Groups LVDD 0 (n = 23), LVDD 1 (n = 43), and LVDD 2 (n = 41) were significantly different in most of the studied variables. Particularly, MAPSE differed between the three groups (P < 0.01). A multiple regression analysis showed that age, LVEF and LV mass index were predictors of MAPSE instead of LVDD and left atrial measurements. Finally, a regression model was constructed to predict MAPSE in the studied group showing that age and LVEF explained a 46% of the MAPSE variation. A two-way contour plot was illustrated to ease the model interpretation. Conclusions Age and measures of LV systolic function correlated well with MAPSE. A simplified model to predict MAPSE based on age and LVEF is proposed. Additional studies are needed to examine the potential role of MAPSE in identifying symptoms and overall prognosis in LVDD patients.

BackgroundLeft ventricular (LV) velocity of propagation (Vp) has been shown to be inversely related to the LV relaxation time constant. We sought to examine Vp from a group of chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) patients and compare these values to Vp obtained in normal individuals and patients with known LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD).MethodsEcho-Doppler data and Vp measurements were retrospectively collected from all patients. The studied population was divided into four groups. Group I comprised of 15 patients with normal LV diastole, group II included 27 patients with stage 1 LVDD, group III was made up of 27 patients with stage 2 LVDD, and group IV included 66 patients with cPH.ResultsIn the cPH population studied, patients had smaller end-diastolic LV cavities with the highest Vp values but their early mitral inflow to Vp ratios were not different from healthy controls. In addition, Vp values and pulmonary wedge capillary pressures were significantly associated in patients with LV dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension (P < 0.01).ConclusionsLVVp might be a useful non-invasive measurement to be routinely obtained in cPH patients as it probably not only reflects the compressive forces being exerted on the LV, known to increase Vp, but also might be quite useful for the non-invasive assessment of pulmonary capillary wedge pressures in these patients.

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