The effect of myocardial fibrosis on left ventricular diastolic function assessed by non-invasive cardiac magnetic resonance and echocardiography

Methods Ninety one eligible subjects undergoing cardiac structural and functional assessment with LGE-CMR and Doppler echocardiography were investigated. Left ventricular function, volumes, myocardial thickness, left atrial volume, wall motion score index (WMSI) and the extent of LGE were assessed using CMR. Mitral early diastolic peak (Ewave) and late peak (A-wave) velocities, E/A ratio, deceleration time (DT) of mitral early velocity, early diastolic mitral annulus peak velocity was measured by echocardiography, and ratio of transmitral diastolic peak velocity to the mitral annular diastolic peak velocity (E/E’) was calculated. Classification of diastolic function as normal, mild dysfunction (impaired relaxation), moderate dysfunction (pseudonormal), and severe dysfunction (restrictive filling pattern) was performed according to standard criteria. The E/E ratio was used to estimate LV filling pressures.