Delay of left ventricular longitudinal expansion with diastolic dysfunction: impact on load dependence of e′ and longitudinal strain rate

The effect of diastolic dysfunction (DD) on the timing of left ventricular (LV) diastolic longitudinal and circumferential expansion and their load dependence is not known. This study evaluated the timing of the peak early diastolic LV inflow velocity (E), mitral annular velocity (e′), and longitudinal and circumferential global strain rates (SR(E)) in 161 patients in sinus rhythm. The intraventricular pressure difference (IVPD) from the left atrium to the LV apex was obtained using color M‐mode Doppler data to integrate the Euler equation. The diastolic function was graded according to the guidelines. In normals (N = 57), E, e′, longitudinal SR(E), and circumferential SR(E) occurred nearly simultaneously during the IVPD. With DD (N = 104), e′ and longitudinal SR(E) were delayed occurring after the IVPD (e′: 18 ± 23 msec, longitudinal SR(E): 13 ± 21 msec from the IVPD), whereas circumferential SR(E) (−8 ± 28 msec) and E (−2 ± 13 msec) were not delayed. The normal dependence of e′ and longitudinal SR(E) on IVPD was reduced in DD; while the relation of circumferential SR(E) and E to IVPD were unchanged in DD. Thus, normally, the LV expands symmetrically during early diastole and both longitudinal and circumferential expansions are related to the IVPD. With DD, early diastolic longitudinal LV expansion is delayed, occurring after the IVPD and LV filling, resulting in their relative independence from the IVPD. In contrast, with DD, circumferential SR(E) and mitral inflow are not delayed and their normal relation to the IVPD is unchanged.