To evaluate regional LV function, regional pre-ejection contraction time (PECT), and pre-ejection contraction velocity (PECV) and early diastolic velocity (Emyo vel) were measured by M-mode tissue color Doppler in normal myocardium of 28 normal patients (pts), hypertrophic myocardium of 18 pts with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and infarcted myocardium of 11 pts with myocardial infarction. Data were compared with global LV isovolumic contraction time (ICT) and early diastolic mitral flow velocity (Emv) measured by pulsed Doppler. PECT was significantly shorter than ICT in all patients. PECT was uniform in LV of the normal group. However,the mean PECT was shorter in hypertrophic myocardium, and longer in infarcted myocardium than that in normal myocardium. In both hypertrophic and infarcted myocardium, abnormalities of PECV and Emyo vel were detected easily while LV-ICT or Emv was within normal. M-mode tissue color Doppler methods are useful in distinguishing between normal, hypertrophic and infarcted myocardium more sensitively
