Purpose
In a prior publication, loss of myocardial bounce was highly associated with systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The bounce is the rapid change in LV volume at the end of diastole during atrial contraction just prior to systolic ejection. This study attempts to determine if bounce is associated with diastolic dysfunction determined by echocardiography.
Methods
135 patients with an echocardiogram and a cardiac MR were selected with 38% of those paired of studies within three months of each other. The bounce was graded by 3 blinded observers into categories of 0=none, 1=minimal/reduced, and 2=normal bounce.
Results
Inter-reader agreement was summarized using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and ratings was moderate [ICC 0.60, 95% confidence interval (0.51-0.68)]. The sensitivity and specificity of lack of bounce (grade 0 or 1) as a screen for diastolic dysfunction on echo were 89% and 47%, respectively.
Conclusion
The simple observation of a normal myocardial bounce in MRs was predictive of normal diastolic function and lack of was highly associated with dysfunction determined via echocardiography. Systolic function remains normal in some of these patients and this finding may represent diastolic dysfunction. Further studies examining the relationship between bounce with different types of diastolic function is needed. This updated study confirms myocardial bounce seen on various cardiac imaging modalities may be a simple useful tool for detecting cardiac dysfunction.