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Background The early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E′) is reduced in patients with diastolic dysfunction and increased filling pressures. Because transmitral inflow early velocity (E) increases progressively with higher filling pressures, E/E′ has been shown to have a strong positive relationship with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. However, previous studies have primarily involved patients without a pericardial abnormality. In constrictive pericarditis (CP), E′ is not reduced, despite increased filling pressures. This study evaluated the relationship between E/E′ and PCWP in patients with CP.

Methods and Results We studied 10 patients (8 men; mean age, 64±7 years) with surgically confirmed CP. Doppler echocardiography was performed to measure early and late diastolic transmitral flow velocities. Tissue Doppler echocardiography was …