Changing diastolic closure rates (E to F slopes) in a patient with mitral stenosis: a case report.

A patient with mitral stenosis and atrial flutter was found to have a normal diastolic closure rate (E to F slope). Following cardioversion, the typical echocardiographic features of mitral stenosis were found. After various interventions that increased heart rate, however, the diastolic closure rate increased. This report demonstrates, therefore, that the E to F slope is not always a fixed value in mitral stenosis and that under certain conditions it may even appear to be normal.