A NEW COLOR M-MODE INDEX OF DIASTOLIC FILLING COMPARED WITH RADIONUCLIDE VENTRICULOGRAPHY

We correlated the new diastolic index 'delay of apical peak velocity', as measured by colour M-mode Doppler, with radionuclide ventriculogra phic indices of ventricular function. Thirty-seven patients with coron ary artery disease participated in the prospective and blinded study, which included repeated acquisitions to determine the effect of realig ning the Doppler sample beam. In multiple regression, neither peak fil ling rate, left ventricular phase histogram width nor ejection fractio n were statistically significantly related to delay of apical peak vel ocity. The standard deviation of the differences between duplicate col our M-mode acquisitions corresponded to half the reference range of th e index. We conclude that in this blinded investigation, the new Doppl er index did not provide information about ventricular function equiva lent to radionuclide ventriculography. The index may be significantly influenced by sample beam position.