Role of diastolic dyssynchrony in the delayed relaxation pattern of left ventricular filling.

We investigated the extent to which diastolic dyssynchrony contributes to the delayed relaxation pattern of left ventricular filling and limitation in exercise capacity. In 100 patients with diabetes, preserved left ventricular systolic function, normal filling pressure, and no coronary disease, we measured magnitude of early diastolic tissue lengthening (tissue velocity and strain rate) and diastolic dyssynchrony (SD in QRS to peak early diastolic tissue velocity interval across 4 basal myocardial segments). From transmitral flow patients were divided into those with normal filling (50 patients) and delayed relaxation (50 patients). Myocardial lengthening was reduced and SD in interval from QRS onset to peak early diastolic tissue velocity across all segments was higher in patients with delayed relaxation compared with control patients. Myocardial lengthening was the only predictor of delayed relaxation and correlation with exercise capacity was better for lengthening indices than SD in interval from QRS onset to peak early diastolic tissue velocity across all segments. Therefore, in this group a reduced rate of myocardial lengthening plays a more important role in delayed relaxation than diastolic dyssynchrony.