Diastolic heart failure

Diastolic Heart Failure

Diastolic heart failure.

to the editor: Zile et al. (May 6 issue) 1 conclude that heart failure develops in patients with a normal ejection fraction because of abnormal active and passive diastolic function. However, the applicability of this conclusion to all such patients is uncertain for several reasons. First, accurate assessment of left ventricular volume, on which the conclusions critically depend, requires a thr...

Diastolic heart failure.

Defining diastolic heart failure.

The diagnosis of diastolic heart failure suggested by Vasan and Levy1 and Grossman,2 as definite, probable, or possible, presently hinges on the demonstration of diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction at cardiac catheterization or echocardiography. It is likely that a far simpler measure, which is based on an analysis of the arterial pulse measured noninvasively, can be used. The studies o...

Diastolic Heart Failure

N Engl J Med 2004;351:1097-105. Copyright © 2004 Massachusetts Medical Society. A 78-year-old woman with a history of hypertension is admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure. Physical examination reveals a blood pressure of 180/90 mm Hg, increased jugular venous pressure, peripheral edema, and pulmonary rales. A chest radiograph shows pulmonary edema and mild cardiomegaly. An ech...