[Examination of the diastolic function of the left ventricle by Doppler echocardiography in coronary disease]

Abstract

The authors examined the left ventricular diastolic function at rest and in pain-free period in patients with chest pain but without previous myocardial infarction. Two patient group were formed according to the results of coronarography: 15 patients had significant coronary artery stenosis, while the coronarography was negative in case of 11 patients. Four Doppler echocardiographic parameters were taken and their sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were determined on the base of the result of the coronarography. The small number of patients allows only preliminary evaluation but the results suggest that the altered diastolic function enhances the probability of the presence of significant coronary artery disease, while a normal diastolic function decreases its probability.