Doppler Echocardiographic Evaluation of Right Ventricular Diastolic Function in
Isolated Valvular Aortic Stenosis
Georgios K. Efthimiadis MD, Georgios E. Parharidis MD, Konstantinos D. Gemitzis MD,
Ioannis G. Nouskas MD, Haralambos I. Karvounis MD, Ioannis K. Styliadis MD,
Georgios E. Louridas MD

Left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) has been adequately studied, in contrast to right ventricular diastolic function (RVDF). In this study, using spectral Doppler, RVDF was evaluated in 20 patients with AS and in 20 healthy controls. Based on transtricuspid and transpulmonary flow velocities, the right ventricular diastolic indices were calculated as follows (patients versus controls): E/A ratio of transtricuspid flow waves was lower (0.88 ± 0.20 versus 1.25 ± 0.33, p <0.001); deceleration time of E wave was longer (184 ± 3 versus 127 ± 3 ms, p <0.001); atrial filling fraction was augmented (43.1 ± 7.7 versus 33.6 ± 7.6%, p <0.001); and isovolumic relaxation time was prolonged (116 ± 3 versus 31 ± 15 ms, p <0.001). To conclude, RVDF in AS patients is impaired, reflecting abnormal relaxation.