ASE Publishes Updated LV Diastolic Function by Echo Guideline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Natalie Costantino
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ASE Publishes Updated Guideline on Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function and Heart Failure with HFpEF

(DURHAM, NC, July 7, 2025)—An updated guideline from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) offers new echocardiographic parameters and recommendations for clinicians evaluating patients for possible heart failure. Recommendations for the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function by Echocardiography and for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Diagnosis: An Update from the American Society of Echocardiography is published in the July 2025 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is an integral part of the routine evaluation of patients presenting with symptoms of shortness of breath or clinical concerns for heart failure. This updated guideline, which supersedes the ASE and European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guideline on the evaluation of LV diastolic function by echocardiography published in 2016, offers revised recommendations to support more accurate and comprehensive evaluation of diastolic function. The document explains methods and measurements to help clinicians better understand heart function and assess diastolic function in patients with complex heart conditions.

Guideline Writing Group Chair Sherif F. Nagueh, MD, FASE, Medical Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory at Houston Methodist DeBakey in Texas, also chaired the writing group of the 2016 document.

“Many patients present for clinical care because of symptoms of shortness of breath, and heart failure is an important consideration. Its correct diagnosis is essential for timely and appropriate treatment and echocardiography plays a major role in the diagnosis,” said Dr. Nagueh. “The updated guidelines will help physicians caring for patients with heart failure reach a timely diagnosis and decrease the need for cardiac catheterization to determine pressures in the left heart.”

Key highlights from this updated guideline include:

• A new algorithm for estimating left atrial pressure and grading LV diastolic dysfunction.
• Additional algorithms for specific cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension and heart transplant recipients.
• A new section with specific recommendations for the diagnosis of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

The complete guideline document and all guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. In 2025, ASE is celebrating its milestone 50^th anniversary.  For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Bluesky.

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