Usefulness of systolic excursion of the mitral anulus as an index of left ventricular systolic function

Studies in both humans and nonhuman animals show that the mitral anulus changes its size, shape and position during the cardiac cycle.^1-3 Left ventricular (LV) contraction results in shortening along both the short and long axis of the left ventricle. With each systole, the mitral anulus moves toward the apex in a cephalocaudal direction.^1-3 It has also been observed that the displacement of the mitral anulus during the systole is reduced with dilated cardiomyopathy.⁴ We examined the relation between the amount of systolic excursion of the mitral anulus and LV systolic function as measured by radionuclide ventriculography and a variety of echocardiographic techniques.