Normal left ventricular systolic time intervals assessed by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography in the Turkmen horse of Iran

The Turkmen horse is one of the oldest and purest breeds in the world. There is no information with regards to the normal echocardiographic parameters of this horse regarding to cardiac diseases. Pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler echocardiography was performed on 42 clinically normal 3- to 15-year-old racing Turkmen horses. There were 26 stallions and 16 mares. The left ventricular isovolumetric contraction time, pre-ejection period (PEP), and the left ventricular ejection time (LVET), were measured, and the values of the left ventricular total electromechanical systole (LVTES) and the PEP-to-LVET ratio were calculated. The most suitable window for the measurement of the aforementioned indices in PW Doppler echocardiography was the left parasternal window using the five-chamber apical view. The following values were acquired in PW Doppler echocardiography: PEP = 0.088 ± 0.018 s; LVET = 0.445 ± 0.031 s; LVTES = 0.533 ± 0.032 s; and PEP-to-LVET = 0.199 ± 0.046. These measurements can be used in the future as standard and reference values for the evaluation of cardiovascular disorders in the Turkmen horse.