Pulmonary Venous Flow Patterns In Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy A Trans Esophageal Echo Doppler Study

Abstract

Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy have been reported to have abnormal left ventriclar diastolic properties.

Left ventricular systolic function does not correlate well with functional class in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

To determine whether the correlation is better with Doppler indexes of left ventricular diastolic function, 24 patients With DCM were studied. Patients were classified into two groups according to functional class. Group Iconsisted of 12 patients in NYHA class I or II; group II consisted of 12 patients in NYHA class III or IV.

Left ventricular dimensions, EF, fractional shortening and complete analysis of transmitral and pulmonary venous flow patterns were computed from pulsed wave Doppler and M-mode echocardiograms. TEE was used for analyzing PVF.

Our data suggested that a restrictive transmitral flow pattern was found in both groups of our study patients with shorter mitral DT in patients of group II. The PVF velocity patterns showed a shorter PSV, VTIS, systolic fraction and S/D ratio in patients of group II.