Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of diastolic function in Boxer dogs

Major diastolics indexes, including the mitral propagation velocity (Vp), were evaluated in 36 healthy Boxer dogs, 18 males and 18 females, aging from 1.5 to 6-years-old. The aortic root and left atrium ratio, measured in B mode, was 1.17+/-0.11. The peaks of velocity of waves of the left atrium filling were: systolic 31.41+/-6.87cm/ s, diastolic 73.85+/-17.04cm/s and atrial reversal 28.90+/-8.33cm/s. The ratios of the waves of initial ventricular filling were 1.58+/-0.19 to mitral valve and 1.62+/-0.29 to tricuspid valve. From the evaluated indexes, the Vp was only weakly correlated (r=0.39) with E and A waves of mitral valve and with D, showing itself, relativity, as an independence index. Regarding to the Vp, no significant differences were seen between the gender of the animals and among the observers. The Vp decreased as the age increased, showing mean values of 99.73+/-16.06cm/s.