LV diastolic distensibility - SHF versus DHF

The left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressure versus volume relationship is significantly different in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF) compared with systolic heart failure (SHF) patients. In this graph, the LV diastolic pressure versus volume relationship (from mitral valve opening to mitral valve closure) is plotted for normal individuals in green, patients with DHF in red, and patients with SHF in blue. In DHF, the LV diastolic pressure volume relationship is shifted upwards, indicating a decreased distensibility. By contrast, in patients with SHF, the LV diastolic pressure versus volume relationship is shifted to rightwards, indicating an increased distensibility. It should be clear from this graph that all patients with heart failure, whether diastolic heart failure or systolic heart failure, have a significant increase in LV diastolic pressure. However, the mechanisms responsible for these increased pressures are different between these two different patient groups.