Propagation velocity of mitral late flow toward the apex in healthy participants

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2004 Aug;17(8):851-4. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2004.04.036.

Abstract

The transit time of mitral late flow (A wave) to the outflow tract (A-Ar interval) has been demonstrated to be shorter in the presence of increased ventricular stiffness. However, the A-Ar interval is just a measure of time duration and the data of intraventricular A-wave propagation velocity are still unavailable. In this study we presented the aging trend in various intracardiac Doppler signals, including the mitral A-wave propagation velocity toward the apex (APV(apex)). It was measured as the slope of the first aliasing velocity line segment of the mitral A wavefront at color M-mode Doppler analysis. Age correlated significantly with peak velocity of mitral early flow (E wave), peak A velocity, velocity ratio of E to A wave, deceleration time of E wave, and mitral E-wave propagation velocity toward the apex, but not with the A-Ar interval (r = -0.262, P =.066) or the APV(apex) (r = -0.047, P =.748). Neither the A-Ar interval nor the APV(apex) was different between the young and the elderly groups. Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between the APV(apex) and the A-Ar interval (r = -0.135, P =.348). In conclusion, aging has a major adverse impact on myocardial relaxation associated with a minor one on the noninvasive indices of ventricular compliance. The APV(apex) is age-independent and, moreover, there is no significant correlation between the APV(apex) and the A-Ar interval.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Echocardiography, Doppler*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve / diagnostic imaging*
  • Mitral Valve / physiology*
  • Ventricular Function, Left / physiology*