Reversal of changes in left ventricular diastolic filling associated with normal aging using diltiazem

Congestive heart failure is a common problem in clinical geriatrics and often the result of diastolic rather than systolic dysfunction. 1 Normal aging is associated with a reduction in the rate of calcium ion uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. 2 Because intracellular handling of calcium may affect isovolumic relaxation and left ventricular (LV) compliance, a calcium antagonist may be beneficial. The pattern of LV diastolic filling may be accurately characterized by both pulsed Doppler transmitral flow velocities 3 and radionuclide scintigraphy. 4 The present study tests the hypothesis that a calcium antagonist, diltiazem, may be effective in reversing the impairment of early diastolic LV filling seen in elderly subjects.