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Abstract Although catheterization is the gold standard, Doppler echocardiography is the preferred diastolic function (DF) characterization method. The physiology of diastole requires continuity of left ventricular pressure (LVP)-generating forces before and after mitral valve opening (MVO). Correlations between isovolumic relaxation (IVR) indexes such as tau (time-constant of IVR) and noninvasive, Doppler E-wave-derived metrics, such as peak A-V gradient or deceleration time (DT), have been established. However, what has been missing is the model-predicted causal link that connects isovolumic relaxation (IVR) to suction-initiated filling (E-wave). The physiology requires that model-predicted terminal force of IVR (Ft IVR) and model-predicted initial force of early rapid filling (Fi E-wave) after MVO be correlated. For validation, simultaneous (conductance catheter) P-V and E-wave data from 20 subjects (mean age 57 years, 13 men) having normal LV ejection fraction (LVEF>50%) and a physiologic range of LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were analyzed. For each cardiac cycle, the previously validated kinematic (Chung) model for isovolumic pressure decay and the Parametrized Diastolic Filling (PDF) kinematic model for the subsequent E-wave provided Ft IVR and Fi E-wave respectively. For all 20 subjects (15 beats/subject, 308 beats), linear regression yielded Ft IVR = α Fi E-wave + b (R = 0.80), where α = 1.62 and b = 1.32. We conclude that model-based analysis of IVR and of the E-wave elucidates DF mechanisms common to both. The observed in vivo relationship provides novel insight into diastole itself and the model-based causal mechanistic relationship that couples IVR to early rapid filling.
Mossahebi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.