149 Familial dilated cardiomyopathy: an international registry

function FE>55%, but with left ventricular hypertrophy, and compared them 23 normal subjects (Group III). Before and after administration of sublingual trinitrine we measured color Mmode flow propagation velocity (Vp), peak early (E) and late (A) transmitral Doppler velocities, and calculated E/A ratio. Results: (See Table) In all three groups decrease of the E/A ratio after the administration of trinitrine was due to a significant decrease of the peak early velocity (E) by 28%. Color Mmode flow propagation velocity (Vp) was not affected after preload reduction in study groups. In normal subjects, heart rate (HR) increased after trinitrine by 10 ± 9 bmp, but Vp changes remained non-significant after correction for RR intervals (Vpc = Vp/root RR): Vpc = 2.4 (0.89) and Vpc NTG = 2.5 (0.9). Conclusion: Color Mmode flow propagation velocity, in contrast with Doppler indexes of transmitral filling, is relatively independent of preload changes. Vp might be an usefull index of assessing intrinsic changes in LV relaxation related to different drugs in various clinical conditions.