Figure 6

Classification of Doppler filling patterns in cardiac pathologies. Algorithm to follow for cardiac causes of abnormal left ventricular Doppler filling pattern. The deciding point here is the systolic function. When the systolic function is normal the distinctive patterns are R, C and RC. In this case one pattern does not 'progress' to another. In systolic dysfunction there is a seamless progression of patterns from 1 – 3+ as the systolic function worsens. These can progress in the reverse direction from 3 – 1 when systolic function improves.