Isovolumic relaxation period in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Assessment by radionuclide angiography

S. Betocchi, R. O. Bonow*, S. L. Bacharach, D. R. Rosing, B. J. Maron, M. V. Green

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Left ventricular isovolumic relaxation and the relation between relaxation and filling were studied in 90 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 29 control subjects using radionuclide angiography. The isovolumic relaxation period was determined automatically on left ventricular time-activity curves as the interval between minimal volume and onset of rapid filling. In 17 patients, M-mode echocardiography performed simultaneously with radionuclide angiography demonstrated that onset of mitral valve opening correlated well with onset of rapid filling (r = 0.84, p < 0.001). The isovolumic relaxation period was longer in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy than in cdntrol subjects (95 ± 44 versus 50 ± 23 ms, p < 0.01) and was longer in patients without an outflow tract gradient at rest than in patients with a gradient (109 ± 37 versus 86 ± 35 ms, p < 0.05). In these patients without obstruction, a weak linear relation between duration of the isovolumic period and peak filling rate was fodnd (r = 0.48, p < 0.02). Filling was impaired in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as assessed by lower peak filling rate (3.2 ± 1.2 versus 3.5 ± 0.5 end-diastolic volume/s, p < 0.05) and prolonged time to peak filling rate (185 ± 44 versus 145 ± 20 ms, p < 0.01) compared with values in control subjects. The delay in time to peak filling rate was caused primarily by the prolonged isovolumic period, because the interval from onset of rapid filling to peak filling rate was similar in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and control subjects (87 ± 31 versus 95 ± 25 ms, NS). Studies were repeated in 43 patients after administration of oral verapamil (320 to 640 mg/day). Verapamil decreased the isovolumic relaxation period (from 95 ± 42 to 80 ± 31 ms, p < 0.05), associated with improved filling; peak filling rate increased and time to peak filling rate decreased. Thus, the delay in peak filling rate in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is caused by prolongation of the isovolumic period. Verapamil decreases the isovolumic relaxation period and improves subsequent diastolic filling. These data suggest that impaired relaxation is an important determinant of decreased left ventricular filling in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)74-81
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1986

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Isovolumic relaxation period in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Assessment by radionuclide angiography'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this