mitral valve

can u plz tell me wat this statement in my grandfathers report imply.......
" MITRAL VALVE REVEALS REVERSAL OF 'E' AND 'A' WAVES VELOCITIES"???????
DOES IT INDICATE A CONDITION OF EMERGENCY  AND OF WHAT KIND?

[kenkeith]

The E and A waves (velosity) relate to  3 main LV diastolic filling patterns reflecting different diastolic stages can be identified: normal, impaired relaxation, and restrictive LV filling pattern.

An impaired LV relaxation filling pattern is characterized by reduced ratio between early and late filling and prolonged deceleration time of mitral E wave and isovolumetric relaxation time. The restrictive LV filling pattern is associated with decreased LV compliance and is characterized by short isovolumetric relaxation time, reduced deceleration time of mitral E wave, and increased early to late diastolic filling ratio. In cases in which impaired relaxation and decreased compliance of the LV are both present, the diastolic filling abnormalities will have opposite effects on the transmitral LV filling pattern, and the filling pattern might appear normal or actually "pseudonormal." (reversal)

Mitral E-wave deceleration time will often be shortened, and measures of pulmonary venous flow will give useful information in patients with pseudonormal LV filling pattern.

Each LV filling pattern is characterized by differences in LV filling pressures, functional capacity, and prognosis. Without more information, abnormal pressures can be due to restrictive left ventricle filling space due to enlarged heart walls that crowd out the available space and increases pressures.

There can be mitral valve regurgitation that will affect blood flow into the LV from the upper chambers.  There can be mitral valve stenosis (narrowed orifice) that can affect the LV atrium and dilate and change the pressure gradient and affect velocity.

There can be an aorta valve problem that will affect the pressures.  Untreated the condition can advance to heart failure (left ventricle dysfuntion...failure for the heart to pump a sufficient output to meet system demand.

Does the report state cardiomyopathy?