New insights into diastolic dysfunction as the cause of acute left-sided heart failure associated with systemic hypertension and/or coronary artery disease

To gain insight into the mechanisms of acute left-sided heart failure, echocardiograms were recorded at the acute stage and after stabilization in 214 patients with acute pulmonary edema. Although there were no differences in left ventricular ejection fraction and degree of mitral regurgitation between the acute and stabilized studies, 2 distinct and dynamic patterns of diastolic dysfunction, 1 of which has not been previously described, were identified.