Noninvasive assessment of the severity of obstruction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) in bidirectional Doppler sonography of the common carotid artery. Simultaneous comparison with invasive measurements
Weritz, D.; Haerer, W.; Stauch, M.
Zeitschrift für Kardiologie 76(3): 143-148
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5860 PMID: 2438856 Document Number: 290920
A series of 6 patients with HOCM underwent pre- and poststenotic left ventricular pressure measurements with simultaneous monitoring of the Doppler velocity in the right common carotid artery. Baseline measurements were followed by interventions. Mean pressure gradient was 37 +/- 17 mm Hg at baseline, during Valsalva test 61 +/- 19 mm Hg, postextrasystolic 86 +/- 36 mm Hg, after 0.8 mg NTG 104 +/- 57 mm Hg. Midsystolic velocity decreased when the pressure gradient increased. These data suggest that changes in the carotid artery Doppler velocity correspond to alterations in the pressure gradient. Midsystolic retrograde flow was found in 5 out of 6 patients with pressure gradients exceeding 80 mm Hg. Abnormalities in midsystolic flow were never observed in control subjects. We conclude that carotid Doppler sonography is a useful adjunct to the non-invasive evaluation of patients with HOCM.