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Objectives. We previously demonstrated experimentally that the mitral regurgitant velocity spectrum can be used to estimate left ventricular pressure throughout systole and may provide a new noninvasive method for estimating maximal dP/dt and the relaxation time constant. This study was designed to test this method in patients.

Background. The maximal first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt) and the time constant of left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation (τ) are important variables of left ventricular function, but the need for invasive measurement with high fidelity catheters has limited their use in clinical cardiology.

Methods. Twelve patients with mitral regurgitation were studied. The Doppler mitral regurgitant velocity spectrum was recorded simultaneously with micromanometer left ventricular pressure tracings in all patients. The regurgitant velocity profiles were digitized and converted to ventriculoatrial …