Figure 1

a) Global velocities from 9 short axis slices in one volunteer (each curve represents velocity averaged over a slice). In longitudinal and radial directions one systolic (SL/SR), one early diastolic (DL/DR) and one atrial systolic (ASL/ASR) peak is seen. Longitudinal peaks reduce from base to apex, while radial peaks do not. Two systolic circumferential peaks (C1 and C2) are seen, as well as a diastolic peak (C3) which is negative at base but positive at apex. b) Peak and TTP global velocity values in the mid slice for the healthy volunteers (mean ± SD values shown by red bars), early DCM patient (green crosses) and late DCM patient (blue crosses). Healthy values show small standard deviations (although circumferential peaks are more variable). C3 is not shown as it is very slice-position dependent not always seen in the mid slice. The early stage patient shows normal longitudinal values but reduced radial values, whereas the late stage patient shows reduced peak values in all directions.