INTRODUCTION Even the language of “diastolic heart failure” is controversial. The phrase “heart failure with preserved left ventricular function” is preferred by many. When there is uncertainty about the name…
INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions, affecting more than 170 million individuals worldwide. Global estimates for the year 2025 predict a further increase of almost 50%, with the greatest…
INTRODUCTION The treatment of diastolic heart failure (also known as “heart failure with preserved systolic function”) has been challenging, partly because there is a lack of consensus regarding the definition…
INTRODUCTION In clinical practice, we use many indices of cardiac function, such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), maximal positive or negative pressure/time change (dP/dt), Tau (τ), stiffness, maximum elastance,…
INTRODUCTION While the importance of hypertension in the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure is well known, relatively less attention has been paid to the interaction between coronary…
INTRODUCTION The left atrium is an oval chamber with thin, muscular walls, located between the aorta and the esophagus. Because of this location, it is easily recognized not only by…
INTRODUCTION Hypertension and valve disease are key risk factors for heart failure. Uncontrolled hypertension results in left ventricular (LV) remodeling, often with an increase in LV mass. Valve disease is…
INTRODUCTION Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heterogeneous disease of the myocardium that is characterized by left ventricular (LV) or biventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction. In the classification of the World…
INTRODUCTION Pulsed-wave Doppler velocities of mitral inflow are the most commonly used indices of diastolic function. Their application is nevertheless limited by their load dependency. Flow propagation (Vp) using Doppler…
INTRODUCTION The cardiac cycle is continuous. The filling of the ventricle (diastole) is followed by ventricular contraction (systole) to provide an adequate cardiac output during both rest and exercise to…
