Although determination of Doppler echocardiographic transmitral inflow patterns(DETIP) is used as an indrect method assessing LV diastolic function. It is known that DETIP can be affected by certain hemodynamic variables. The aim of this investigation is to assess the serial changes of DETIP and to determine the relation of DETIP with clinical parameter such as initial left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV), ejection fraction(EF), Killip class and thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.

Four serial Doppler and 2-D echocardiographic studies were performed at 1 day, 1 week, 1mouth, and 3 months after development of AMI in 24 patients(M:F=19:5, aged 58±11 year , 15 anterior MI) and 13 normal adults (aged 47±9 years) as reference group. On admission 14 patients were in Killip class I and 10 patients in class II. Thrombolytic therapy with IV urokinase were done in 11 patients. E velocity, pressure half-time (PHT), and isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT) were analyzed and LV systolic function was determined in apical 4 chamber view.

DETIP did not change until 1month after development of AMI. However, E/A ratio was decreased, and PHT and IVRT were increased at 3 months after AMI. Doppler transmitral flow parameters were not related with Killip class and LV systolic function. Patiens who recieved urokinase intravenously and who had greater intial LVEDV(>118cm³) showed higher E/A ratio and shorter PHTand IVRT than those who did not. These findings indicate that changes in Doppler transmitral inflow pattern in AMI patients are not uniform over a period of 3 months and thrombolytic therapy causes favorable effect on Doppler transmitral flow parameters.

Changes in Doppler trasmitral inflow pattern may be variable over post-AMI period and this should be taken into account in evaluating LV diastolic function after AMI. Thrombolytic therapy may improve LV diastolic function in AMI patients.