Limits of ventricular function: from athlete's heart to a failing heart.
The interest in the study of ventricular function has grown considerably in the last decades. In this review, we analyse the extreme values of ventricular function as obtained with Doppler echocardiography. We mainly focus on the parameters that have been used throughout the history of Doppler echocardiography to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function. The 'athlete's heart' would be the highest expression of ventricular function whereas its lowest expression is represented by the failing heart, independently from the original aetiology leading to this condition. There are, however, morphological similarities (dilation and hypertrophy) between the athlete's and the failing heart, which emerge as physiological and pathophysiological adaptations, respectively. The introduction of new assessment techniques, specifically speckle tracking, may provide new insight into the properties that determine ventricular filling, specifically left ventricular twisting. The concept of ventricular function must be always considered, although it may not be always possible to distinguish the normal heart of sedentary individuals from that of highly trained hearts based solely on echocardiographic or basic studies.
Cardiology Unit, University Hospital Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
José Francisco
JF
Forteza-Albertí
Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre ('i+12'), Madrid, Spain.
Fabian
F
Sanchis-Gomar
Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Lippi
Emergency Department, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Gianfranco
G
Cervellin
Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre ('i+12'), Madrid, Spain.|European University, Madrid, Spain.
Alejandro
A
Lucia
Department of Performance and Health, Faculty of Sciences for Physical Activity and Sport, Madrid, Spain.
Francisco Javier
FJ
Calderón-Montero
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D059267:Cardiomegaly, Exercise-Induced; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
Doppler echocardiography; athlete's heart; heart failure; training; ventricular function