L wave in echo Doppler

Abstract

62-Year-old female presented with progressive dyspnea NYHA class III for six months. Echocardiography showed normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function, mild biatrial enlargement, an L wave in pulse wave Doppler at mitral inflow and in M mode echocardiography across mitral valve. Tissue Doppler imaging at medial mitral annulus showed an L′ wave in mid diastole in addition to E′ and A′ wave. An L wave in pulse wave Doppler and M mode echocardiography represents continued pulmonary vein mid diastolic flow through the left atrium in to LV across mitral valve after early rapid filling. Presence of an L′ wave in these patients associated with higher E/E′ is indicative of advance diastolic dysfunction with elevated filling pressures.

Keywords

• L wave
• L′ wave
• Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction
• Triphasic mitral inflow