[Flow in the entry chamber of the left ventricle. Changes with age].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of aging in the parameters of the left ventricle diastolic function, using 2D-Doppler echocardiography.


METHODS
Prospective study of normals subjects.


METHODS
They were studied 38 normals subjects aged between 23-70 years divided in two groups: group A--20 subjects aged less than 45 years (34.5 +/- 6) and group B--18 subjects aged greater than 45 years (55.7 +/- 8.4); we registered the left ventricle inflow flows by 2D-pulsed Doppler Echocardiography and analyzed the following indexes: E and A Velocities, E/A ratio, relations of areas under the curves of flow, E Area/Total Area (EAr/TAr), A Area/Total Area (AAr/TAr), 33% Area/Total Area (33Ar/TAr), 50% Area/Total Area (50Ar/TAr) and A Area/E Area (AAr/EAr).


RESULTS
E Vel and E/A ratio are significantly higher in the group A (p less than 0.001), both decreasing with aging, respectively r = -0.71 and r = 0.63; on the other way, the relative contribution of atrial systole to the left ventricle diastolic filling is significantly higher in the group B(ArA/ArT p less than 0.001; AAr/EAr p less than 0.001), increasing significantly with aging, r = 0.64 and r = 0.69, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an increasing of atrial contribution to the left ventricular diastolic filling in the elderly, so in comparative studies it must be used control groups with the same age.
Carmo
M M
MM
Serviço de Cardiologia do Hospital de Santa Marta, H.C.L., Lisboa.
Soares
R
R
Ferreira
T
T
Ferreira
R
R
Ferreira
L
L
Quininha
J
J
Salomão
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
Fluxos da câmara de entrada do ventrículo esquerdo. Variação com a idade.