title: Correlation of end-diastolic pressure and myocardial elasticity with the transit time of the left atrial pressure wave (A-Ar interval).
abstract: Contraction of the left atrium in diastole generates a pressure wave that moves along the postero-lateral wall of the left ventricle (LV), rebounds off the LV apex, and is then directed toward the outflow tract. The movement of this atrial pressure wave may be detected with pulsed Doppler echocardiography by placing a sample volume in the LV outflow tract. The resulting spectral profile shows the initial. A velocity wave and also the Ar velocity wave, which is caused by the atrial pressure wave rebounding off the LV apex. The transit time from the inflow tract to the outflow tract of the atrial pressure wave (A-Ar interval) may be determined from the time axis of the spectral profile by measuring the peak-to-peak separation of the A and Ar, velocity waves. It occurs in the range 25 to 80 milliseconds. The primary determinant of the A-Ar interval is the elasticity of the LV myocardium. We correlated ventricular elasticity with the A-Ar interval in 47 patients and found a significant negative linear correlation (r = -0.782, p < 0.001). Because the pressure in a viscoelastic conduit such as the LV is determined by the elasticity of the ventricular wall, we correlated end-diastolic pressure with the A-Ar interval and again showed a significant negative linear correlation (r = -0.701, p < 0.001). The A-Ar interval is an easily measured noninvasive index of the diastolic function of the LV that reflects its intrinsic elasticity and end-diastolic pressure. It is therefore a quantitative measurement of LV wall stiffness and end-diastolic pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: O'Hare
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003971:Diastole; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011312:Pressure; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left