Assessment of intraventricular pressure gradients in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction during an acute dose of sublingual Nitro-Glycerine

Patients with Heart Failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) show high mortality, yet not all its causes are fully understood. Organic nitrates, as sublingual nitro-glycerine (NTG), are potent vasodilators which caused a reduction in myocardial energy requirements (reduced preload and afterload) and therefore, they can be used as a potential treatment for HFpEF patients. As a decreased preload is associated with reduced cardiac hemodynamic parameters, the prognosis of HFpEF patients under NTG treatment can be performed through the use of Color Doppler M-Mode ultrasound imaging (CMM) for assessing E and A waves and intraventricular pressure gradients (IVPG)