Depressed Atrial Function in Diastolic Dysfunction: A Speckle Tracking Imaging Study

Background: Two‐dimensional speckle tracking imaging (STI) has recently been applied to the study of left atrial (LA) reservoir function. We utilized STI to analyze LA function in diastolic dysfunction (DD), hypothesizing that LA strain abnormality is part of the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction. Methods: We applied STI to 50 patients with Grade 1‐2 DD, comparing these results to 100 normal controls. Complete Doppler analysis of filling was made using peak E, peak A and tissue Doppler e' velocities; E/e' was used as a surrogate for LA pressure and LA stiffness index was calculated. Results: In analysis of covariance, adjusting for age and gender, compared with controls, DD patients had higher E/e', greater LA volume and greater LA stiffness, but lower E/A ratio and global LA strain. LA strain appears to be inversely related to LA volume, but not to other indices of LV diastolic function. In subgroup analysis, LA strain was significantly lower, and stiffness significantly higher in DD, even after correction for differences in LA volume and E/A ratio. Analysis of ROC curves suggests that abnormal LA strain is a better marker for diastolic dysfunction than LA enlargement. Conclusion: LA strain by STI is significantly reduced in early diastolic dysfunction and is related to higher LA stiffness and LA size. Reduction in LA strain is partially independent of LA volume; accordingly we hypothesize that reduced atrial strain indicates impaired atrial distensibility.     

Left Atrial Longitudinal Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Healthy Aging Heart

Background:

Left atrial volume (LAV) and function are connected to the left ventricular (LV) haemodynamic patterns. To define the changes of LAV and functions to counterbalance age-related LV diastolic impairment, this study was undertaken.

Methods:

2D-Left Atrial Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (2D-LASTE) was used to define both LAV and functions in an aged healthy population (group II) respect to adult healthy controls (group I).

Results:

Results showed an increasing of left atrial volume indices (LAVI) (maximum, minimum, pre-a) in old subjects in comparison with those obtained in adult healthy controls. On the contrary, LAVI passive emptying unchanged and LAVI passive fraction reduced with advanced age. Finally, LAVI active emptying increased with advancing age to compensate the age-dependent left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. The values of global systolic strain (S); systolic strain rate (SrS); early diastolic strain rate (SrE), and late diastolic strain rate (SrA) were also calculated. With reference to the function, our study confirmed that LA conduit function deteriorates with age while booster pump increases respect to adult controls and reservoir phase is maintained.

Conclusions:

The echocardiographic findings obtained with conventional and tissue Doppler confirmed the connection between LA functions and volumes and age-related LV dysfunction. Conclusively, 2D-LASTE appears to be a reliable tool to evaluate the role of LA to compensate the derangement of left ventricle happening with ageing.     

The Impairment of Endocardial Radial Strain Is Related to Aortic Stenosis Severity in Patients with Aortic Stenosis and Preserved LV Ejection Fraction Using Two‐Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Background: Myocardial function is heterogeneous in different myocardial layers. Recently, two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography has been used to define myocardial deformation parameters of the left ventricular (LV) segment. This study aimed to investigate strain in subendocardial and subepicardial layers in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF) using speckle tracking echocardiography. Methods: Parasternal short‐axis and apical long‐axis views of the left ventricle were acquired at the mid‐papillary level in 35 control subjects and 32 patients with AS and preserved LVEF. Radial, circumferential, and longitudinal strain in subendocardial and subepicardial layers at the posterior and anteroseptal segments were calculated. Results: There was no significant difference in circumferential strain in subendocardial and subepicardial layers between the control subjects and the patients with AS. Similarly, there was no significant difference in epicardial radial strain at the posterior and anteroseptal segments between the control subjects and the patients with AS. Longitudinal strain at both the posterior and anteroseptal segments was significantly decreased in the AS group compared with that in the control group. AS patients had significantly decreased values of endocardial radial strain compared with those in controls (anteroseptal: 18.2 ± 11.2 vs. 34.5 ± 14.8, P < 0.005; posterior: 25.2 ± 14.8 vs. 32.6 ± 12.6, P < 0.05). In the AS group, endocardial radial strain in the posterior and anteroseptal segments was significantly correlated with the aortic valve area (posterior: r = 0.41, P < 0.05; anteroseptal: r = 0.33, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with AS and preserved LVEF have impaired longitudinal strain and endocardial radial strain, although circumferential strain and epicardial radial strain are preserved. Despite preserved LVEF, endocardial radial strain was associated with AS severity.     

Two‐Dimensional Ultrasound Speckle Tracking Imaging in Evaluation of Early Changes in Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Objective: To investigate two‐dimensional ultrasound speckle tracking imaging (STI) in evaluating values of early changes in left ventricular diastolic function in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Methods: Seventy‐five EH patients with left ventricular normal geometry (LVN), including 38 cases with nonleft atrial enlargement (NLAE) and 37 cases with left atrial enlargement (LAE), and 50 healthy persons were enrolled as study participants. Two‐dimensional images of LV apical four‐chamber view, two chamber view, and LV long‐axis view and short‐axis view of mitral annular, papillary muscle, and apical levels were obtained to measure early diastolic E′ peak value, late diastolic A′ peak value, and E′/A′ ratio at LV apical longitudinal strain rate (SrL) and short‐axis radial strain rate (SrR), circumferential strain rate (SrC), and rotation rate (RotR) in all cardiac segments. Average values of E′, A′, and E′/A′ at SrL in three segments on long‐axis and SrR, SrC, and RotR on three short‐axis levels were calculated. Untwisting rate (Untw R) and untwisting half‐time (UHT) were also calculated. Results: (1) Data on 110 of 125 patients were usable for STI analysis. (2) There were no intersegment significant differences between A′ at SrL in three segments or interlevel significant differences between A′ at SrR in three levels in the NLAE group and the LAE group. (3) Compared with the normal group, E′ at SrL and E′/A′ at SrL, SrR and SrC, and Untw R reduced in the NLAE group and the LAE group, while A′ at SrL, SrR, and SrC and E′ at RotR increased and UHT extended. Conclusion: STI may be helpful for the detection of early changes in left ventricular diastolic function in patients with EH. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY 2010;27:146‐154)     

Detection of Coronary Artery Disease by Means of Exercise ECG in Patients with Aortic Stenosis

ABSTRACT As exercise-induced ST depressions are most frequent and marked in lead V₅ independent of which single coronary artery is obstructed, some other mechanisms of ST depressions than local ischemia should be searched for. Left ventricular hemodynamics during exercise was studied in two groups of patients with severe effort angina, 19 with and 12 without ST depression after exercise (STAE). During supine exercise until angina, stroke index became significantly lower (37 vs. 52 ml/m²) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) significantly higher (40 vs. 30 mmHg) in the STAE group. The best discriminator was the early diastolic pressure (LVeDP) (22 vs. 11 mmHg), which is interpreted as a sign of a more ischemic ventricle in the STAE group. The sum of STAE in all leads is correlated to LVeDP but not to LVEDP during exercise. The link between the significant ischemia in various locations and STAE appearing most frequently and markedly in V₅ seems to be some global mechanism as the occurrence of STAE and the height of the R wave were positively correlated in the various leads. As STAE in coronary heart disease shows similar configuration and distribution as in aortic valvular stenosis and digoxin medication of healthy subjects, a possible link could be the compensatory increase in contractility in non-ischemic parts of the ventricle.     

Radial Strain: Harbinger of Good News

Introduction:

We report the case of a 58-year-old woman with intracranial hemorrhage associated with stress-induced cardiomyopathy.

Results:

Left ventricular dysfunction was confined to midventricular segments, and manifested with transient anterolateral wall aneurysm. Although wall motion was severely impaired in the mid-segments, an almost preserved global midventricular radial strain forecasted rapid improvement of ventricular function.

Conclusions:

This case highlights how deformation imaging can help in clinical practice to interpret the subtle signs of recovery from left ventricular dysfunction.     

Association of Left Ventricular Longitudinal and Circumferential Systolic Dysfunction With Diastolic Function in Hypertension: A Nonlinear Analysis Focused on the Interplay With Left Ventricular Geometry

BackgroundThe relationships of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal and circumferential systolic dysfunction with diastolic performance in hypertensive patients have never been compared.Methods and ResultsIn 532 asymptomatic hypertensive patients, circumferential function was assessed with the use of midwall fractional shortening (mFS) and stress-corrected mFS (SCmFS), whereas longitudinal function was assessed with the use of left atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) and systolic mitral annulus velocity (s′). Early diastolic annular velocity (e′) and the E/e′ ratio were measured. Global longitudinal and circumferential strain were determined in a subset of 210 patients. e′ was linearly related to all systolic indexes (AVPD: R = 0.40; s′: R = 0.39; mFS: R = 0.16; SCmFS: R = 0.17; all P < .0001), but the correlations were stronger with longitudinal indexes than with circumferential ones (P < .0001). E/e′ was nonlinearly related to AVPD (R = −0.49; P < .0001) and s′ (R = −0.34; P < .0001) and showed no relationship with mFS and SCmFS. Longitudinal indexes were superior to circumferential ones in predicting e′ <8 cm/s, E/e′ <8, and E/e′ ≥13. The effect of LV geometry on LV diastolic function was evident among patients with preserved systolic longitudinal function, but was blunted among patients with impaired longitudinal function. In multivariable analyses, only longitudinal indexes remained associated with e′ and E/e′. Analyses using strains provided similar results.ConclusionsIn asymptomatic hypertensive subjects, LV diastolic performance is independently associated with longitudinal systolic dysfunction, but not with circumferential systolic dysfunction. Subtle longitudinal systolic impairment plays a role in mediating the effect of LV geometry on diastolic performance. These findings may support the need of critically revising the concept of isolated diastolic dysfunction in these patients.     

Association of Left Atrial Strain and Strain Rate Assessed by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Background: We hypothesized that contraction of the LA wall could be documented by speckle tracking and could be applied for assessment of LA function. This study tried to identify the association between LA longitudinal strain (LAS) and strain rate (LASR) measured by speckle tracking with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Methods: Fifty‐two patients (61 ± 17 years old, 23 men) with sinus rhythm at baseline referred for the evaluation of episodic palpitation were included. Standard four‐chamber and two‐chamber views were acquired and analyzed off‐line. Peak LAS and LASR were carefully identified as the peak negative inflection of speckle tracking waves after P‐wave gated by electrocardiography. Results: Ten patients (19%) had PAF. LAS, LASR, age, left ventricular end‐diastolic dimension, left ventricular mass, LA volume, and mitral early filling‐to‐annulus early velocity ratio were different between patients with and without PAF. After multivariate analysis, LASR was significantly independently associated with PAF (OR 8.56, 95% CI 1.14–64.02, P = 0.036). Conclusion: Speckle tracking echocardiography could be used in measurements of LAS and LASR. Decreased negative LASR was independently associated with PAF. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 26, November 2009)     

三维斑点追踪技术判断冠状动脉左前降支重度狭窄的价值

目的探讨三维斑点追踪(3DT)技术参数判断冠心病(CHD)患者冠状动脉左前降支(LAD)重度狭窄的价值。方法将58例CHD患者根据冠状动脉造影(CAG)结果分为两组,A组(LAD狭窄率<75%)21例,B组(LAD狭窄率≥75%)37例。经胸心尖四腔观采集左心室三维全容积动态图像,运用4D Auto LVQ软件进行在线分析,比较LAD供血节段收缩期三维整体纵向应变(LAD-GLS)、圆周应变(LAD-GCS)、面积应变(LAD-GAS)、径向应变(LAD-GRS)参数的差异。以CAG结果作为金标准,分别计算LAD-GLS、LAD-GCS、LAD-GAS、LAD-GRS判断LAD重度狭窄的最佳截断值、敏感性、特异性及ROC曲线下面积(AUC)。结果 B组LAD-GLS、LAD-GCS、LAD-GAS、LAD-GRS较A组明显减低,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.01);检测LAD重度狭窄的最佳截断值、敏感性、特异性及AUC分别为LAD-GLS:18.20%、93.80%、60.00%、0.86,LAD-GCS:14.75%、53.10%、95.00%、0.72,LAD-GAS:25.50%、56.30%、95.00%、0.79,LAD-GRS:39.95%、53.10%、95.00%、0.79。结论 3DT参数可用来判断CHD患者LAD重度狭窄,LAD-GLS敏感性高,但特异性低;LAD-GCS、LAD-GAS及LAD-GRS特异性高,但敏感性低。     

The Impact of Mitral Stenosis on Left Atrial Function Assessed by Two‐Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mitral stenosis (MS) on left atrial (LA) function using two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). Methods and Results: The study subjects consisted of 52 patients with asymptomatic MS and 52 control subjects. LA function was assessed using prototype speckle tracking software and manual tracking method. Maximal LA volume (LAVmax) and minimal LA volume (LAVmin) and LA volume before atrial contraction (LAVpre‐a) were measured. Using these volumes, LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump fuction parameters were calculated. Indexed LAVmax, LAVmin, and LAVpre‐a measurements via speckle tracking were highly correlated with manual tracing methods in both groups. Expansion index (67.8 ± 36.4 vs. 148.3 ± 44.2), diastolic emptying index (37.7 ± 12.9 vs. 58.0 ± 8.5), passive emptying (37.3 ± 14.1 vs. 70.4 ± 10.4) and passive emptying index (13.3 ± 6.3 vs. 41.3 ± 10.6) were decreased significantly in MS patients (P < 0.001). In contrast active emptying index (62.6 ± 4.1 vs. 29.5 ± 10.1) increased in MS group (P < 0.001) while active emptying (28.1 ± 13.0 vs. 28.3 ± 6.9) remained same among both groups. Conclusions: This is the first study relating LA volumes and function assessed by 2DSTE to MS. 2D speckle tracking analysis of LA volume is relatively easy and provides more detailed information regarding the changes in LA volumes during the cardiac cycle.