SummaryBackground: Atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) study by M-mode echocardiography can supply useful clinical information about left ventricular (LV) long-axis function.Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that AVPD estimation could be used to detect early hypertensive cardiomyopathy.Methods: The study population included 81 hypertensive patients with normal LV ejection fraction and fractional shortening, and 50 age-and gender-matched healthy controls. By utilizing M-mode and apical views, the following parameters were estimated: early mitral flow peak velocity (E) and deceleration time (DT), peak velocity of late mitral flow (A), A/E ratio, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), total AVPD, AVPD motion during atrial systole (At), systolic AVPD (total AVPDAt), and At/total AVPD ratio.