Impact of Arterial Load and Loading Sequence on Left Ventricular Tissue Velocities in Humans

Impact of Arterial Load and Loading Sequence on Left Ventricular Tissue Velocities in Humans Barry A. Borlaug, Vojtech Melenovsky, Margaret M. Redfield, Kristy Kessler, Hyuk-Jae Chang, Theodore P. Abraham, David A. Kass The relationship between individual components of left ventricular afterload and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) velocities was examined in humans. Early-diastolic velocity (E′) varied inversely with total, nonpulsatile, and early arterial afterload, but the relationship was strongest for components of pulsatile load, particularly late-systolic load, which is affected predominantly by vascular stiffening and wave reflection. Peak systolic TDE velocities (S′) were found to vary inversely with afterload, suggesting that they may not be optimal measures of contractility. The association of increased late-systolic load with impaired E′ velocity suggests that reduction of afterload and vascular stiffening may enhance diastolic function.