Left ventricular tissue Doppler imaging in normal adults with clinic BP of 120/80mmHg or less.

BACKGROUND

There is only scanty data on tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of 'normal' adults.

METHODS

Twenty eight asymptomatic adults (20-45 yrs) without cardiovascular risk factors, clinic BP < or = 120/80mmHg and normal echocardiographic examination were evaluated by tissue Doppler imaging to find normal reference values in this population.

RESULTS

There was significant heterogeneity in TDI velocities and duration of different segments of left ventricle (LV). Sa and Ea velocities were lower at medial mitral annulus and middle part of interventricular septum (IVS) than at lateral mitral annulus and middle part of left ventricular lateral wall. Isovolumic contraction time (IVCT) was significantly less at lateral mitral annulus and mid part of lateral wall of LV. Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was significantly less at lateral mitral annulus. Aa velocity was lower at middle part of IVS. E/Ea velocity ratio was significantly lower at lateral mitral annulus. Ea/Aa velocity ratio was always more than 1. Relatively higher values were recorded at lateral mitral annulus and mid part of left lateral wall. Myocardial performance index values were higher at mid segments than at annulus.

CONCLUSION

Our data provides reference values of TDI for healthy normal adults and may help in the detection of onset of early diastolic dysfunction in this age group.