This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nakhjavan, F. K. Articles by Goldberg, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nakhjavan, F. K. Articles by Goldberg, H.

Circulation, Vol 52, 264-267, Copyright © 1975 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Comparison of ejection fraction and zonal mean velocity of myocardial fiber shortening

FK Nakhjavan, G Natarajan and H Goldberg

To determine the extent of cardiac involvement until a diminished ejection fraction (EF) is present, zonal mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (Vcf) was measured from the left ventriculogram in 36 patients. The longitudinal axis (apex to mid-point of the aortic valve plane) in right anterior oblique view was divided into four equal parts by three perpeendicular chords. Zonal Vct and percent shortening along the proximal, middle and distal chords were measured. The results of this study indicate that a normal EF is frequently associated with a reduced Vct in one or even two zones. A reduced EF is generally accompanied by a diminished Vct in all three zones of the heart. In addition, a close correlation was found between zonal Vct and percent shortening. Hence the latter, which is much simpler to measure, can be instead of Vct Ejection fraction as a measure of myocardial performance is not as sensitive as Vct, especially in hearts with asynchrony of contraction.