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OBJECTIVES: Phototherapy has been reported to reduce coronary blood flow in neonates but without affecting gross measures of cardiac function. The aim of our current study was to evaluate earlier, more sensitive changes in cardiac function during phototherapy. METHODS: Nineteen neonates with jaundice treated with phototherapy had Doppler echocardiographic evaluation, before, during and after phototherapy and were compared to 25 matched controls. Sensitive measures for cardiac performance in this study included left ventricular dimension, ventricular Doppler parameters and regional function assessment. RESULTS: Phototherapy was associated with a significant increase in heart rate. In addition, atrioventricular valve closure to opening interval decreased significantly during phototherapy while ventricular ejection times tended to decrease. However, left and right ventricular filling parameters and outflow velocity parameters, longitudinal tissue-Doppler annular velocities and myocardial performance indices were not affected by phototherapy and were similar to those in controls. Coronary blood velocities and integrals decreased significantly during phototherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found no differences in early and sensitive measures of cardiac performance including the diastolic and systolic function, despite modestly lower flow in coronary arteries among healthy neonates during phototherapy.

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While bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital cardiac anomaly, quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is rare. The usual three-leaflet aortic valve is characterized by engineering advantages with superior long-term performance, and thus, degenerative changes and significant functional deterioration appear at advanced age. AIM: Evaluation of long-term performance, similarities, and differences between QAV and BAV. METHODS: Screening of 19 000 consecutive echocardiographic studies was performed. RESULTS: BAV was reported in 131 subjects with a prevalence of 0.7%, while QAV was seen in 11 with a prevalence of 0.06%, P < .00001. Age of BAV patients was younger, 45 ± 20 years vs 62 ± 17 years in QAV, P < .05, with higher proportion of females in those with QAV, 40% vs 30%. Chamber diameters were similar in both groups. Higher atrial contraction-A-wave mitral peak velocities and longer E-wave deceleration times were found in subjects with QAV, P < .05 for both. Dilated ascending aorta was found in 25% of patients with BAV and in 18% of those with QAV, P = .2. Moderate and severe aortic valve stenosis were found in 21% of patients with BAV and in 27% of those with QAV, P = ns. More than moderate aortic regurgitation was found in 15.5% of BAV patients and in 9% of QAV, P = ns. Aortic valve infective endocarditis was found in 1.5% of BAV patients and in 9% of those with QAV. CONCLUSIONS: BAV is a common congenital anomaly, while QAV is rare. Similar prevalence of significant valve disease and aortopathy was found in both anomalies, though at younger age in BAV patients.

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BACKGROUND: Patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and increased platelet count treated by fibrinolysis have worse outcomes. AIM: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that platelet blood count at admission in patients with acute STEMI treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention affects coronary flow, myocardial perfusion and recovery of left ventricular systolic function. METHODS: A total of 174 patients presenting with acute anterior STEMI and treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention were included and divided into subgroups of admission platelet blood count of <200 K, 200-300 K, 300-400 K and >400 K. Evaluation of coronary artery flow and myocardial blush grade was performed according to the TIMI criteria. Electrocardiographic ST elevation resolution post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention was evaluated. Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of left anterior descending coronary artery velocities early and late after primary percutaneous coronary intervention and assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction and wall motion score index (WMSI) of left ventricular and left anterior descending coronary artery territory were performed. RESULTS: Post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention TIMI, myocardial blush grade and ST elevation resolution were similar in all groups. Patients with platelet counts <200 K had higher peak diastolic left anterior descending coronary artery velocity both early and late after primary percutaneous coronary intervention, and higher prevalence of left anterior descending coronary artery velocity deceleration time exceeding 600 ms, (45.5% vs. 40%, P<0.05). Patients with platelet counts >400 K presented with worse left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular WMSI and left anterior descending coronary artery WMSI, and before discharge this subgroup had worse left ventricular WMSI and left anterior descending coronary artery WMSI, P<0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with anterior STEMI treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention with lower admission platelet count had higher left anterior descending coronary artery diastolic velocities, better myocardial perfusion with more patients having left anterior descending coronary artery-descending coronary artery velocity deceleration time >600 ms. Patients with higher platelet counts had lower left ventricular systolic function both at admission and before discharge.

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BACKGROUND: Myocardial stunning is responsible for partially reversible left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). AIM: To test the hypothesis that early coronary blood flow (CBF) to LV systolic function ratios, as an equivalent to LV stunning index (SI), predict recovery of LV systolic function after PPCI in patients with acute STEMI. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with acute anterior STEMI who had successful PPCI were evaluated and compared to 96 control subjects. Transthoracic echocardiography with measurement of LV ejection fraction (EF), LV, and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery area wall-motion score index (WMSI) as well as Doppler sampling of LAD blood velocities, early after PPCI and 5 days later, were performed. SI was evaluated as the early ratio of CBF parameters in the LAD to LV systolic function parameters. RESULTS: Early SI-LVEF well predicted late LVEF (r=.51, P<.01) and the change in LVEF (r=.48, P<.017). Early SI-LVMSI predicted well late LVEF (r=.56, P<.006) and the change in LVEF (r=.46, P<.028). Early SI-LADWMSI predicted late LVEF (r=.44, P<.028). Other SI indices measured as other LAD-CBF to LV systolic function parameters were not predictive of late LV systolic function. CONCLUSIONS: LV stunning indices measured as early LAD flow to LVEF, LVWMSI, and LADWMSI ratios well predicted late LVEF and the change in LVEF. Thus, greater early coronary artery flow to LV systolic function parameter ratios predict a better improvement in late LV systolic function after PPCI.

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BACKGROUND: Normal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery as determined by coronary angiography is considered not only to reflect normal angiography but also to correlate with normal anatomy and function. However, subjects who undergo coronary angiography may differ from those who do not need to have invasive evaluation even if their functional noninvasive studies like dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) were normal. AIM: LAD velocities in subjects with normal angiography and those with normal DSE are equal. METHODS: A total of 244 subjects were evaluated, 78 had normal LAD by angiography and 166 had normal LAD by DSE. All had Doppler sampling of LAD velocities by transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: Velocity was higher in the angiographic subgroup in diastole 41 ± 23 vs 33 ± 14 cm/s, p = 0.0078; systole 18 ± 14 vs 13 ± 7 cm/s, p = 0.012; diastolic integral 12.6 ± 5 vs 9.8 ± 3.8 cm, p = 3.15 × 10(-5); systolic velocity integral 4 ± 2.9 vs 2.8 ± 1.9, p = 0.0014. While heart rate was similar in both groups, the product of diastolic velocity integral and heart rate of the LAD in the angiographic group was higher: 902 ± 450 vs 656 ± 394, p = 0.00599. Diastolic velocity deceleration time was similar in both groups. Coronary flow reserve defined as diastolic velocity ratio before and immediately after DSE correlated negatively with baseline velocity, r = -0.4. CONCLUSIONS: Mode of defining normality of coronary artery affects velocity behavior of the vessel, reflecting functional differences possibly related to microvasculature and vasodilatation.

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BACKGROUND: Function of the microcirculation after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is dynamic and contributes to unpredictability of recovery of left ventricular (LV) systolic function. AIM: This study was conducted to evaluate sequential Doppler velocity parameters of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in predicting recovery of global and regional LV systolic function. METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients, 24 males, age 59 ± 12 years, with acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who had primary PCI were studied. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) and myocardial blush grades were evaluated. Transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) studies, evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), LAD territory wall-motion score index (WMSI), and sampling of LAD Doppler velocities up to 6 hours post-PCI, 48 hours postprocedure, and predischarge were performed. RESULTS: Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade before PCI averaged 0.86 ± 1.19 and post-PCI 2.89 ± 0.32, P < 0.05. Myocardial blush grade before PCI was 0.41 ± 0.98 and after PCI 2.22 ± 0.93, P < 0.05. Diastolic velocity deceleration time (DDT) in the LAD early after PCI was less than 600 ms in 16 subjects. Immediately after PCI, in subjects with DDT > 600 ms, LVEF was 38.5 ± 6% and predischarge 49.2 ± 8.7%, P = 9.77 × 10−5 and LAD-WMSI decreased from 2 ± 0.38 to 1.4 ± 0.48, P = 0.000163. In subjects with DDT < 600 ms LAD-WMSI did not change significantly. Early and minimal LAD-DDT correlated with improvement in LV systolic function, r = 0.6, whereas post-PCI blush grade had lower correlation with LVEF, r = 0.39. CONCLUSIONS: Global and regional LV systolic function after PCI in acute anterior MI can be predicted by LAD-DDT better than by post-PCI myocardial blush.

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UNLABELLED: The treatment of choice in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Although, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) and myocardial blush grade (MBG) measures provide semi-quantitative flow evaluation after PPCI, serial and quantitative volumetric flow evaluation is still lacking. AIM: Serial assessment of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery flow in patients with anterior myocardial infarction (MI), immediately after PPCI, 48 h later and pre-discharge and compare findings in patients with optimal and suboptimal PPCI result and their relation to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS: Velocities in the LAD were recorded within 6 h after PPCI and one week later in 36 patients presenting with acute anterior STEMI. Sixteen patients had TIMI and MBG less than 3 after PPCI were considered to have suboptimal result. Sampling of LAD coronary artery velocity was obtained from trans-thoracic Doppler. Flow in the LAD coronary artery was estimated using heart rates, Doppler time velocity integrals and LAD color Doppler diameters. RESULTS: Diastolic LAD coronary artery flow immediately after PPCI in subjects with suboptimal PPCI, 29 ± 21 ml/min was lower than in those with optimal result, 39.8 ± 21 ml/min, p<0.05. Diastolic flow in the LAD coronary artery increased to 50.3 ± 28.5 ml/min two days after PPCI in patients with suboptimal PPCI, p=0.04, and to 49.6 ± 13.8 ml/min in those optimal result, p=0.04. LVEF increased by 9% in patients with optimal PPCI, p=0.004, and did not change in the other group. CONCLUSIONS: (a) After PPCI, flow in the LAD coronary artery was dynamic; (b) in the presence of suboptimal PPCI, early LAD coronary artery flow was reduced; (c) pre-discharge, LAD coronary artery flow increased; and (d) LVEF increased only in optimal PPCI group associated with higher early LAD coronary artery flow.

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BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfunction precedes systolic dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormality (WMA) on diastolic LV and right ventricular (RV) function at rest and after stress. METHODS: Fifty-nine subjects, 15 with LV-WMA (abnormal group) and 44 without (normal group), underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) studies, in addition to evaluation of LV and RV diastolic function before and after DSE. RESULTS: Resting mitral flow parameters were similar. DSE increased peak A-wave velocities in both groups, and mitral color slope only in normal subjects. After DSE, E-wave peak velocities and mitral color slope were higher in normal subjects, P < 0.05. At rest and after DSE systolic and diastolic pulmonary vein velocities were similar in both groups; however, DSE increased these velocities only in normal subjects, P < 0.05. Regional E-wave peak velocities of LV were higher at rest in normal subjects, P < 0.05. Both LV and RV, regional peak E-wave velocities were not affected by DSE. After DSE, regional A-wave peak velocities increased in all (P < 0.01), except at the lateral region (P = 0.07). DSE increased trans-tricuspid velocities in both groups, P < 0.05. Resting A-wave velocities were higher in normal subjects, P < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Global LV early diastolic filling parameters were not affected by LV-WMA at rest. LV-WMA blunted the response after stress. RV E-wave velocities increased after DSE, and were not affected by LV-WMA. LV-WMA reduced regional LV-E' velocities at rest but not the reserve. A-wave velocities were not affected by WMA and increased after DSE.

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BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) systolic performance is more difficult for evaluation compared to the left ventricle (LV). Despite differences in structure, RV myocardial fibers are in continuity with those of LV. The aim is assessment of the effects of LV wall motion abnormalities (WMA) on RV systolic function at rest and after stress. METHODS: Fifty nine subjects, 15 with LV-WMA underwent dobuatmine stress echocardiography (DSE) studies using the usual protocol. Measurement of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), velocity (TASV), mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) and velocity (MASV), were performed before and immediately after DSE studies. RESULTS: TAPSE was lower, in those with LV-WMA than in those without, both at rest 20.5 ± 4.8 mm versus 24.9 ± 4.7 mm, P = 0.015 and after DSE studies, 21.5 ± 5.6 mm versus 27.65 ± 5.7 mm, P = 0.005. DSE studies did not change TAPSE significantly in the presence of LV-WMA. TASV at rest in those with LV-WMA was 16.5 ± 2.7 cm/sec and similar to that in those without, 17.6 ± 3 cm/sec. In both groups the velocity increased after DSE studies, 23.25 ± 7.5 cm/sec, P = 0.01 with LV-WMA, and 27.5 ± 6 cm/sec, P = 0.0005, without LV-WMA. Despite similar TASV at rest, the TAPSE/TASV ratio, indicating duration of shortening, was lower (124 ± 21 msec) in subjects with of LV-WMA, than in those without (145 ± 27 msec), P = 0.0065, implying increased after load for RV longitudinal shortening in the presence of LV-WMA. CONCLUSIONS: TAPSE is lower at rest and after DSE studies in subjects with LV-WMA than in subjects without; however, DSE studies increase TPASE only in the absence of LV-WMA. TASV increases after DSE studies and is similar at rest in both groups with or without LV-WMA. It seems that LV-WMA increases after load to RV longitudinal motion.

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BACKGROUND: Mitral annular systolic displacement from M-mode echocardiography and velocity from tissue Doppler imaging reflect subendocardial longitudinal systolic LV performance and may precede radial abnormalities. The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of mitral annular systolic displacement (D) and velocity (V) during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in detecting left ventricular (LV) functional reserve and wall motion abnormality (WMA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-nine subjects, 15 with resting WMA, underwent DSE and measurement of mitral systolic (D) and (V) before and immediately after DSE. Annular septal (D) was lower in those with WMA than in those without, at rest 10.5 ± 4 cm versus 13.2 ± 2 cm, p = 0.015, and after DSE, 11.7 ± 3.8 cm versus 14 ± 2.25 cm, p = 0.036, but without significant change after stress. Annular systolic (V) at rest with WMA was 9.7 ± 1.8 cm/sec and similar to those without, 11.25 ± 2.7 cm/sec. In both groups the velocity increased after DSE, 14.5 ± 4.5 cm/sec, p = 0.025 with WMA and 17.8 ± 3.2 cm/sec, p = 1.99 x 10-10 in those without WMA. Velocities after DSE were lower in those with WMA, p = 2.25 x 10-6. CONCLUSIONS: To evaluate LV systolic performance mitral annular systolic longitudinal displacement is valuable at rest, but for assessment of LV functional reserve after stress velocities are better.

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BACKGROUND: Longitudinal systolic left ventricular contraction is complementary to the radial performance and can be assessed using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). This study was performed to evaluate the contribution of mitral annular systolic velocities using TDI after dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty subjects with suspected coronary artery disease and chest pain were examined, using DSE as usual, as well as TDI imaging of the mitral annulus at the septal, lateral, inferior, anterior, posterior regions and the proximal anteroseptal region from the apical views, before and immediately after DSE. In 24 subjects the study was normal, while wall motion abnormality was seen in 26, 9 of them only after DSE. Mitral annular systolic velocity at the 6 locations increased significantly after DSE both in normal subjects and in those with wall motion abnormality (WMA). After DSE mitral annular septal systolic velocity in normals, 19.2 ± 3.8 cm/sec, was higher than in those with WMA, 14.6 ± 2.5 cm/sec, P < 0.0003. Post-DSE mitral systolic velocity was senstive and accurate in predicting WMA. CONCLUSIONS: Systolic mitral TDI velocities increase after DSE, however to a lesser extent in those with wall motion abnormality, and can differentiate them from normal subjects.

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BACKGROUND: Incorporation of analysis of coronary velocities in stress studies adds diagnostic value to both clinical variables and dobutamine echocardiography. Micorcirculatory abnormalities may precede obstructive corornary disease. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess Doppler derived coronary velocity and flow of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients without LAD-related ischemia. METHODS: Sixty nine patients with chest pain underwent DSE studies to evaluate myocardial ischemia. All had trans-thoracic Doppler interrogation of the distal LAD before and just after termination of the DSE. Coronary velocity reserves (CFR) were calculated as the ratios of post-DSE/baseline diastolic velocities. Volumetric flow in the distal LAD was calculated from the diameter of LAD color jet and velocity integral. Volumetric flow reserve was calculated as the ratio of post-DSE baseline LAD flows. RESULTS: At rest all subjects had left ventricular wall motion score index (WMSI) = 1, while in 28, wall motion abnormality appeared in non-LAD territory with WMSI = 1.17 ± 0.08. Peak diastolic velocity after DSE increased form 28.5 ± 13.6 to 52.4 ± 23.7 cm/sec, P = 9.5 × 10-11, and velocity-CFR was 2.08 ± 0.7. Diastolic LAD flow increased from 36.5 ± 23.8 to 75.75 ± 48.7 mL/min, P = 1.21 × 10-7 and volumetric-CFR was 2.6 ± 2.8. Peak diastolic velocity-CFR in patients without LV wall motion abnormality was 2.4 ± 0.7 while in those with motion abnormality 1.77 ± 0.56, P = 0.00008. Flow-derived LAD-CFR was 3.3 ± 3.7 in those without compared to 1.88 ± 0.57 in patients with wall motion abnormality, P < 0.05. CONCLUSION: LAD velocity and flow reserves are reduced in patients with remote myocardial ischemia, which may indicate early atherosclerotic involvement.

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In the presence of severe stenosis, coronary artery flow may be reduced at rest. Recent advances in echocardiography have made non-invasive sampling of velocities in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) possible. The aim of our study was to evaluate feasibility and capability of transthoracic Doppler to detect severe stenosis of the LAD. The study population consisted of 42 subjects with suspected coronary artery disease scheduled for coronary angiography. All had complete transthoracic echocardiography and Doppler sampling of LAD velocities. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed within 24 hours of the echocardiogram. Correlations between LAD velocity profile, measurements and calculations, and the angiographic results were performed. Six subjects had LAD occlusion, 10 had severe (>80% diameter) LAD stenosis, and 26 had normal or non-occlusive LAD disease. In all six subjects with LAD occlusion, distal LAD velocities were not detectable, while in the other 36 subjects, LAD velocities were recorded indicating the vessels were patent. In the 10 subjects with severe LAD stenosis, the diastolic/systolic velocity ratio was <1.5, while in those with non-significant LAD disease, the diastolic/systolic velocity ratio was >1.5 (P<0.005). Diastolic LAD flow was 21.8±13 mL/min in the presence of severe stenosis as compared to 48.5±20 mL/min in subjects without severe stenosis (P<0.0013). LAD velocities had high sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of severe angiographic stenosis. Thus transthoracic Doppler measurement of LAD velocities is feasible and can predict the presence of severe LAD stenosis or occlusion.

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BACKGROUND: The temporal behavior of the coronary microcirculation in acute myocardial infarction may affect outcome. Diastolic deceleration time and early systolic flow reversal derived from coronary artery blood flow velocity patterns reflect microcirculatory function. OBJECTIVES: To assess left anterior descending coronary artery flow velocity patterns using Doppler transthoracic echocardiography after primary percutaneous coronary intervention, in patients with anterior AMI. METHODS: Patterns of flow velocity patterns of the LAD were obtained using transthoracic echocardiography-Doppler in 31 consecutive patients who presented with anterior AMI. Measurements were done at 6 hours, 36-48 hours, and 5 days after successful PPCI. Measurements of DDT and pressure half times (Pt%), as well as observation for ESFR were performed. RESULTS: In the first 2 days following PPCI, the average DDT (600 +/- 340 msec) was shorter than on day 5 (807 +/- 332 msec) (P < 0.012), FVP in the first 2 days were dynamic and bidirectional: from short DDT (< 600 msec) to long DDT (> 600 msec) and vice versa. On day 5 most DDTs became longer. Pt1/2 at 6 hours was not different than at day 2 (174 +/- 96 vs. 193 +/- 99 msec, P = NS) and became longer on day 5 (235 +/- 98 msec, P = 0.012). Bidirectional patterns were also observed in the ESFR in 6 patients (19%) at baseline, in 4 (13%) at 36 hours, and in 2 (6.5%) on day 5 after PPCI. CONCLUSIONS: Flow velocity patterns of the LAD after PPCI in AMI are dynamic and reflect unpredictable changes in microcirculation.

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