DOPPLER-DERIVED ACCELERATION RATE OF RIGHT-VENTRICULAR EARLY FILLING AS A MEASUREMENT OF RIGHT ATRIAL PRESSURE IN CHRONIC HEART-FAILURE SECONDARY TO ISCHEMIC OR IDIOPATHIC DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

This study demonstrates that a Doppler-derived tricuspid flow velocity pattern provides an accurate, feasible, and noninvasive method of est imating and monitoring mean right atrial pressure in patients with hea rt failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and who are b oth in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation, In particular, the accele ration rate of early right ventricular filling is a powerful and indep endent predictor of mean right atrial pressure.