OBJECTIVETo examine the clinical application of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) for regional left ventricular function assessment in normal subjects.

METHODSWe examined 50 healthy subjects (range 12-42 years, mean age 28.3 +/- 6.9 years) using pulsed Doppler tissue imaging to characterize the diastolic and systolic velocity profiles of mitral annulus. Recordings were made along the long axis in the apical 4-chamber, 2-chamber, and long apical views of 6 sites (posterior-septum, lateral, anterior, inferior, anterior-septum, posterior) at the mitral annulus. Myocardial velocities were determined with use of variance F statistical analysis. Correlation analysis was employed to test the relationship between age and mitral annular velocities.

RESULTSBoth early diastolic and systolic velocities at the septum were lower than other sites. There were no differences in mitral annulus late diastolic velocities. Mean early diastolic and systolic velocities was negatively correlated with age.

CONCLUSIONSDoppler tissue imaging can directly reflect regional left ventricular function.