Abstract
Log-log relationship between the instantaneous height of the A wave (A) obtained from the apexcardiogram and the diameter of the minor axis of the left ventricle (D) obtained from echocardiogram has been calculated in 33 cases with sinus rhythm and various heart diseases. Coefficient of correlation of log A and log D was significantly high. This log-log slope was 6.0±1.5 in normal subjects, 14.1±7.1 in the patients with left ventricular volume overload and 24.9±8.9 in those with pressure overload. The cases with 4th heart sound showed significantly higher (15.4±7.8) than those without it (8.7±4.3, p<0.01). Log-log slope, a dimensionless value, is proposed to be useful for estimating ventricular or muscle stiffness.
