In mitral stenosis, the E-F slope is ______, reflecting a reduced rate of emptying from the left atrium.

In mitral stenosis, the E-F slope is ______, reflecting a reduced rate of emptying from the left atrium.

• A. increased
• B. unchanged
• C. variable
• D. decreased

Answer: (D)

The E-F slope measures how quickly the left atrium can empty into the left ventricle during early diastole across the mitral valve. In mitral stenosis, the valve is narrowed, creating high resistance to flow and reducing the driving pressure for rapid early filling. This slows the rate at which the left atrium unloads its blood into the ventricle, producing a shallower, or decreased, E-F slope. As a result, the Doppler trace shows a less steep rise during early diastole, reflecting impaired diastolic filling due to the stenotic valve.

The E-F slope measures how quickly the left atrium can empty into the left ventricle during early diastole across the mitral valve. In mitral stenosis, the valve is narrowed, creating high resistance to flow and reducing the driving pressure for rapid early filling. This slows the rate at which the left atrium unloads its blood into the ventricle, producing a shallower, or decreased, E-F slope. As a result, the Doppler trace shows a less steep rise during early diastole, reflecting impaired diastolic filling due to the stenotic valve.