title: Prognostic value of the atrial systolic mitral annular motion velocity in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transmitral flow velocity variables are powerful predictors of poor prognosis in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. However, these variables may not accurately reflect the severity of pulmonary congestion. This study was designed to determine whether the peak atrial systolic mitral annular motion velocity (MA-Aw) measured by pulsed Doppler tissue imaging can predict cardiac death or hospitalization for worsening heart failure in patients with LV systolic dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  MA-Aw was recorded in 96 patients with LV systolic dysfunction who were followed up for 29 +/- 10 months. All patients underwent Doppler echocardiography on entry into the study, and cardiac catheterization was performed in 45 patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups on the basis of the ratio of early (E) to late (A) diastolic filling (E/A) of the transmitral flow velocity: group 1 (n=31; E/A < 1); group 2 (n=37; 1 < or = E/A < 2); and group 3 (n=28; E/A > or = 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During follow-up, 36 patients (38%) died of cardiac causes and 34 (35%) were hospitalized for worsening heart failure. There were 2 cardiac deaths (6%) in group 1, 14 (39%) in group 2, and 20 (56%) in group 3. The MA-Aw correlated closely with the mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Univariate Cox model analysis showed that MA-Aw < or = 5 cm/s was the most powerful predictor of cardiac death or hospitalization for worsening heart failure compared with clinical, hemodynamic, and the other echocardiographic variables. Furthermore, MA-Aw < or = 5 cm/s was clearly discernible as a good predictor of cardiac mortality on multivariate Cox model and as assessed by Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MA-Aw obtained by pulsed Doppler tissue imaging is a sensitive index of pulmonary congestion in patients with LV systolic dysfunction. It is a simple and noninvasive outcome measure and can be used to monitor treatment.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hideji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishimoto
authors.forename: Tetsuzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakatsuki
authors.forename: Tomotsugu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tabata
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011379:Prognosis; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013599:Systole; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*