COLOR-DOPPLER-DIRECTED ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUE FOR THE EVALUATIONOF LEFT-VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC FILLING - VALIDATION BY RADIONUCLIDE ANGIOGRAPHY

A novel color-Doppler-directed echocardiographic technique was develop ed for the determination of left ventricular (LV) peak filling rate no rmalized to the end-diastolic volume (NPFR). To calculate this diastol ic filling index, the mitral valve cross-sectional area (MVA) was meas ured using color Doppler inflow column width for guidance, and the LV volumes were determined by biplane Simpson's rule. For comparison, NPF R was measured in a similar fashion by a non-color Doppler echocardiog raphic (DF) technique with MVA determined on the gray scale image. Rad ionuclide angiography (RNA) was used as a reference standard. Thirty-t wo patients were considered for this study. Seven were excluded becaus e of technical (5 cases) or pathophysioiogical reasons. The mean NPFR values for color DE, non-color DF and RNA were 2.14 +/- 1.03, 2.83 +/- 1.43 and 2.08 +/- 1.43 s-1, respectively. There was a fair correlatio n demonstrated between the non-color DE method and RNA (r = 0.60, SEE = 1.18 s-1). On the other hand, an excellent correlation existed betwe en the color DE method and RNA (r = 0.85, SEE = 0.55 s-1). This improv ement was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the col or DE method for determination of NPFR is more reliable than the non-c olor DF method in reproducing RNA results. However, DE techniques are considerably less applicable than RNA, because 22% of the patients suc cessfully tested with RNA could not be studied with DE methods.