Background:  Association between pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular (L.V.)  diastolic dysfunction in patients with ischemic heart disease has been observed. However,  the  relation  between  the  severity  of  pulmonary hypertension  and  left ventricular diastolic dysfunction  is  still  unclear 

Objectives:  To explore the relationship between pulmonary hypertension severity  and L.V. diastolic dysfunction in patients with ischemic heart disease .

Patients and methods:  200 symptomatic patients with ischemic heart disease were included in this study.  History taking,  clinical  examination,  and  echocardiography  were performed to  all  patients,  LV  dimensions,  systolic  and diastolic  function,  and  systolic  pulmonary  artery  pressure  (SPAP)  were  measured.  the patients were divided into two groups as indicated by the presence or absence of diastolic dysfunction. 

Results:  Patients with  diastolic  dysfunction  had  significantly  higher  SPAP  (p  <  0.00001),  and  significantly higher  incidence  of  severe  pulmonary  hypertension  (p = 0.034). Autonomous indicators for  the  presence  of  severe  pulmonary  hypertension  were  E/E\ >  15, E/A< 1, and  E-wave DT < 160  

Conclusion:  patients with ischemic heart disease  in addition to  left ventricular diastolic  dysfunction  had  a  higher  systolic  pulmonary  artery pressure  and  a  higher  incidence  of  severe  pulmonary  hypertension.  Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was essentially connected with LV  diastolic dysfunction.