[Diastolic function of the left heart ventricle and new possibilities for its evaluation]

Abstract

The authors present a brief account of contemporary findings pertaining to the physiology and pathophysiology of the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. The abnormal diastolic function of the left ventricle is documented best in ischaemic heart disease and hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy. In these conditions the mechanisms of the development of impaired left ventricular diastolic function are described in more detail. These disorders are the early stage of affection of the heart muscle and do not depend on the quality of systolic function of the left ventricle. Isolated disorders of left ventricular diastolic function may be the cause of left-sided cardiac failure. The authors deal also with invasive and non-invasive methods which make examination of diastolic function possible and discuss in more detail Doppler visualization of the blood flow across the mitral valve.