title: Left Ventricular Diastolic Function Assessment of a Heterogeneous Cohort of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is known to trigger right ventricular (RV) remodeling that might compromise left ventricular (LV) filling due to inter-ventricular interdependence. In this study, we aimed to examine standard echocardiographic measurements of LV diastolic function in PAH patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, we identified clinical as well as complete echocardiographic data from 128 chronic PAH patients to fully assess LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) using standard recommended Doppler guidelines. Accordingly, patients were divided into three groups: LVDD 0, LVDD 1 and LVDD 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the studied population was 57 ± 14 years with a mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) of 55 ± 21 mm Hg. A total of 36% of the study patients had normal LV diastolic function. However, 64% had LVDD with LVDD stage 1 being the most common (48%). In terms of echocardiographic data, significant differences were found among the three LVDD groups in regards to PASP, LV end systolic and diastolic volumes, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, right ventricular fractional area change as well as many other tissue Doppler imaging parameters. Finally, just age and PASP were predictors of abnormal LV diastolic function (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Impaired relaxation is a common abnormality in PAH patients. Additional studies are warranted to determine whether LVDD alters prognosis or is related to changes in the symptomatic profile of this group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Medicine Division, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Dagmar F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Suarez
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Health and Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Francisco R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Lopez Menendez
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Health and Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Denada
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palm
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Medicine Division, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez-Candales
keywords: Diastole; Echocardiography; Left ventricular function; Pulmonary hypertension