Figure 2.

Proposed mechanisms of diastolic dysfunction. The mechanism of diastolic dysfunction is characterised by increased stiffness of left ventricle contributing to low cardiac output, thereby elevating diastolic pressure due to slow relaxation in early diastole and greater resistance in late diastole. Abnormal relaxation and increased stiffness in turn causes epicardial and microvascular ischemia, myocyte hypertrophy, diffuse fibrosis, fibro elastosis, pericardial constriction, capillary compression and venous engorgement. This causes volume overload of the contralateral ventricle and increased pulmonary pressure due to decreased stroke volume. *LV: Left Ventricle; SV: Stroke Volume; LVEDP: Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure; COP: Center of Pressure.