Assessment of left ventricular functions with myocardial performance index in coronary slow flow phenomenon

Abstract

Aim: Coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is the delayed filling and emptying of contrast agents in the coronary arteries without angiographically significant stenosis. The impact of CSFP on left ventricular (LV) functions is unclear. The myocardial performance index (MPI) is an index that permits the evaluation of LV systolic and diastolic functions together. In this study, we aimed to evaluate how LV systolic and diastolic functions are affected by the use of MPI in patients with CSFP.Material and Methods: The study included 53 patients (28 men and 25 women) who were found to have CSFP on coronary angiography, and 53 age and gender -matched individuals (30 men and 23 women) with normal coronary arteries. Isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) and ejection time (ET) were measured for all participants included in the study with the help of the tissue Doppler technique. MPI values were calculated with the IVCT+IVRT/ET formula and the results were compared between groups.Results: The mean age of the study group was 54.4 +/- 9.9 years. In the CSFP group, the MPI was significantly higher (0.56 +/- 0.09 vs 0.51 +/- 0.09, p = 0.016), IVRT was longer (75.30 +/- 11.83 vs 69.47 +/- 15.89 ms, p = 0. 035), and ET was shorter (257.51 +/- 30.98 vs 270.04 +/- 21.4 ms, p = 0.017). IVCT was similar between groups (67.34 +/- 12.74 vs. 68.72 +/- 13.42 ms, p = 0.588). LVEF, Mitral E and mitral A wave, E', A', and E/A were similar in both groups.Discussion: Our study results demonstrated that conventional diastolic and systolic parameters were not affected in CSFP and MPI was impaired. We think that MPI should be measured together with other routine echocardiographic measurements when evaluating whether the left ventricular function is affected by CSFP.