Restrictive left ventricular (LV) filling patterns after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) predict poor prognosis. Doppler indexes of LV inflow, especially peak velocity ratio of early versus late diastolic flow (E/A) and deceleration time, can predict heart failure or death. Doppler indexes of pulmonary venous flow are also used to diagnose restrictive LV filling, but their prognostic values after AMI are not known.

Doppler echocardiographic examination were performed in patients with AMI (n=122) between 7 to 10 days after attack, and followed for 30 months. Death group included 9 deaths (7.4%) during follow-up. 18 age-matched patients (control group) were selected from 70 patients without death, heart failure or readmission. Doppler echocardiographic indexes of peak systolic velocity (SV), peak diastolic velocity (DV), and peak reverse flow velocity associated with atrial contraction (AR) of pulmonary venous flow were measured by transthoracic echocardiography.

Death group had lower SV (46.1±6.3 vs 57.0±14.7 cm/sec; p=0.059) and SV/DV ratio (1.26±0.50 vs 1.58±0.37; p=0.076). Death group had significantly more patients with SV/DV ratio less than 1.3 (67% vs 17%; p=0.026). AR was significantly different between death and control groups (29.7±7.8 vs 24.7±6.8 cm/sec; p=0.023). Death group had significantly more patients with AR greater than 25 (78% vs 33%; p=0.046).

SV/DV ratio and AR of pulmonary venous flow predicted death after AMI.