Several modalities to diagnose diastolic dysfunction by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) exist. We compared the ratio of early mitral filling velocity (E) to early diastolic velocity by tissue Doppler imaging at the medial (E/E′m) and the lateral (E/E′l) mitral annulus and developed a model to diagnose elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP).

Sixty patients underwent same-day cardiac catheterization and TTE. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was recorded in addition to TTE data, including left atrial area (LAA), E/E′m, and E/E′l. An LVEDP >15 mm Hg was considered to be elevated and diagnostic of diastolic dysfunction.

E/E′m had a significantly higher correlation (r = 0.68, P < .001) than did E/E′l (r = 0.46, P < .001). By univariate analysis, LAA >18.75 cm², E/E′l >11.2, and E/E′m >15.75 were found to be significant predictors of high LV filling pressure. By multivariate binary logistic regression model analysis, only E/E′m and LAA were independent predictors of LVEDP >15 mm Hg. The presence of 1 variable had a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 43.4%, whereas the presence of 2 variables had a sensitivity of 76.2% and a specificity of 100%.

Use of a diagnostic model based on easily derived measurements such as E/E′m and LAA was a powerful noninvasive diagnostic modality for elevated LVEDP. Measurement of the mitral annulus velocity by tissue Doppler imaging at the medial aspect of the mitral valve appeared to be superior to that at the lateral aspect.