[Regional diastolic function is more preserved in viable than non-viable myocardium. Demonstration by pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging in basal conditions].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in regional diastolic function between viable and non-viable myocardium when assessed by pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging performed in basal conditions.


METHODS
The study population included 21 patients with three-vessel disease and regional systolic dysfunction. These patients underwent transthoracic echocardiographic study and pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging in basal conditions and, in addition, stress echocardiography with dobutamine performed by a different investigator.


RESULTS
Three-hundred and twenty-two segments were studied, 140 of which (43%) had systolic dysfunction. Of the 140 segments with systolic dysfunction, 52 (37%) were considered hypokinetic by transthoracic echocardiography, 80 (57%) akinetic and 8 (6%) dyskinetic. As assessed by dobutamine echocardiography, 67 segments (48%) were considered viable and 73 (52%) non-viable. Viable segments had a higher peak velocity of the early diastolic wave e (5.5 +/- 1.9 vs. 4.7 +/- 2.0 cm/s; p = 0.03). An e/a ratio < 1 was more frequent in non-viable versus non-viable segments (52 vs. 70%; p < 0.05). There were no differences in relation to regional isovolumetric relaxation time and peak velocity of a wave. Although peak velocity of s wave was lower in non-viable segments, differences were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with non-viable segments, viable myocardial segments have less impaired regional diastolic function as assessed by pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging.
Moreno
R
R
Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Madrid.
Angel García-Fernández
M
M
Luis Zamorano
J
J
Moreno
M
M
Pérez De Isla
L
L
Ortega
A
A
Puerta
P
P
Bermejo
J
J
Allúe
C
C
López-Sendón
J
J
D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*