Tissue Doppler imaging in the estimation of intracardiac filling pressure in decompensated patients with advanced systolic heart failure.

The ratio of early transmitral velocity to tissue Doppler mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/Ea) has been correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in a wide variety of cardiac conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability of mitral E/Ea for predicting PCWP in patients admitted for advanced decompensated heart failure. Prospective consecutive patients with advanced decompensated heart failure (ejection fraction < or =30%, New York Heart Association class III to IV symptoms) underwent simultaneous echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluation on admission and after 48 hours of intensive medical therapy. A total of 106 patients were included (mean age, 57+/-12 years; ejection fraction, 24+/-8%; PCWP, 21+/-7 mm Hg; mitral E/Ea ratio, 20+/-12). No correlation was found between mitral E/Ea ratio and PCWP, particularly in those with larger left ventricular volumes, more impaired cardiac indexes, and the presence of cardiac resynchronization therapy. Overall, the mitral E/Ea ratio was similar among patients with PCWP >18 and < or =18 mm Hg, and sensitivity and specificity for mitral E/Ea ratio >15 to identify a PCWP >18 mm Hg were 66% and 50%, respectively. Contrary to prior reports, we did not observe any direct association between changes in PCWP and changes in mitral E/Ea ratio. In decompensated patients with advanced systolic heart failure, tissue Doppler-derived mitral E/Ea ratio may not be as reliable in predicting intracardiac filling pressures, particularly in those with larger LV volumes, more impaired cardiac indices, and the presence of cardiac resynchronization therapy.