title: Transient pseudorestrictive pattern of transmitral flow velocity curve in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus and transmitral flow propagation velocity are reported as more reliable determinants of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with atrial fibrillation than are transmitral Doppler indices. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that transmitral flow curve shows pseudorestrictive pattern during rate-controlled atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients were monitored for three phases: before atrial fibrillation, during atrial fibrillation, and after the recovery of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm. Standard two-dimensional, color flow, and tissue Doppler echocardiography were performed. We compared the indices of left ventricular diastolic function among the three phases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The early diastolic velocity of transmitral flow increased significantly during atrial fibrillation (before, 0.76 ± 0.19 m/sec; during, 0.86 ± 0.20 m/sec; after recovery to sinus rhythm, 0.73 ± 0.16 m/sec; P < 0.01). The deceleration time of early transmitral diastolic wave decreased during atrial fibrillation (182.5 ± 39.6 ms; 149.1 ± 38.7 ms; 184.0 ± 44.5 ms, respectively, P < 0.01). The early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus increased during atrial fibrillation (5.37 ± 1.31 cm/sec; 7.29 ± 1.25 cm/sec; 5.37 ± 1.32 cm/sec; respectively, P < 0.01). The transmitral propagation velocity did not change significantly during atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although conventional Doppler indices showed abnormal relaxation pattern, left ventricular diastolic function was preserved during rate-controlled atrial fibrillation, as determined from early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus and transmitral flow propagation velocity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Motoki
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koshikawa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izawa
authors.forename: Setsuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumazaki
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Uichi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*