VARIATION OF FLOW PROPAGATION VELOCITY WITH AGE

Flow propagation velocity is a new color Doppler M-mode measurement of left ventricular filling characteristics. This study was designed to establish normal values for this measurement in healthy individuals an d to-compare these findings with pulsed Doppler transmitral velocities . Complete M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiographic stud ies were performed on 64 volunteers between 21 and 79 years of age. Si gnificant negative correlations (P < 0.001) with age were noted for fl ow propagation velocity (r = -0.59), peak early diastolic filling velo city (v = -0.65), and peak early diastolic filling/peak atrial filling ratio (r = -0.80). Positive correlations (p < 0.001) with age were ob served for peak atrial filling velocity (r = 0.50) and atrial filling velocity integral (r = 0.71). Flow propagation velocity decreased by 4 4% between the youngest and oldest age groups. We conclude that how pr opagation velocity is influenced by age and that it compares favorably with transmitral Doppler indices of left ventricular filling in this regard. These age-related alterations are present in healthy individua ls, in the absence of any apparent cardiovascular disease.