Isovolumic relaxation flow in patients with left bundle branch block and normal coronary arteriogram.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the presence of isovolumic relaxation flow in patients with left bundle branch block and normal coronary arteriogram. Twenty-four patients with left bundle branch block and normal coronary arteriogram were examined by pulsed Doppler echocardiography and were compared with 20 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Impaired left ventricular relaxation was found in patients with LBBB. All 24 study patients showed isovolumic relaxation flow, but only 4 healthy subjects had isovolumic relaxation flow (p < 0.05). Peak velocity of the isovolumic relaxation flow ranged from 20-42 cm/s. In the study group, left ventricular systolic function was normal in 17 patients, and reduced in the remaining patients. At the end of this study, the presence of isovolumic relaxation flow which may be due to an abnormal septal motion was found in patients with left bundle branch block and normal coronary arteriogram.