title: Mitral annulus displacement measured by tissue-tracking method with Doppler-tissue images is a useful marker of the severity of heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated whether the measurement of mitral annulus displacement by the tissue-tracking method with Doppler-tissue images can provide more accurate information on the severity of heart failure compared to conventional methods, such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Impaired left ventricular function is an important predictor of poor prognosis. Although LVEF has been used to assess left ventricular function, such indicators do not necessarily correlate well to clinical variables such as New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class or plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 90 subjects with or without various heart diseases, mitral annulus displacement was measured by the tissue-tracking method with Doppler-tissue images and the correlations evaluated with NYHA functional class, plasma BNP concentration, left ventricular mass index and Tei index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mitral annulus displacement by the tissue-tracking method with Doppler-tissue images was well correlated with NYHA functional class and plasma BNP concentration. LVEF was also correlated with these clinical variables, but significantly more weakly. Furthermore, mitral annulus displacement by the tissue-tracking method with Doppler-tissue images was correlated with left ventricular mass index and Tei index, which indicate left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that mitral annulus displacement measured by our technique is a useful and reliable method for assessing the severity of heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kyushu Kosei-Nenkin Hospital, Kitakyushu.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noma
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohri
authors.forename: Kohtaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Umpei
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Origuchi
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tajimi
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D013318:Stroke Volume
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain