Comparison of chronic biventricular pacing between epicardial and endocardial left ventricular stimulation using Doppler tissue imaging in patients with heart failure.

In patients with a wide QRS, drug-resistant heart failure, and a coronary sinus that is unsuitable for transvenous biventricular pacing (BVP), a transseptal approach from the right to left atrium can allow endocardial left ventricular (LV) pacing (with permanent anticoagulant therapy) instead of epicardial pacing via the coronary sinus branches. We sought to compare the effects of endocardial pacing with those of epicardial LV pacing on regional LV electromechanical delay (EMD) and contractility. Twenty-three patients (68 +/- 8 years) with severe heart failure and QRS > or =130 ms received a pacemaker for BVP. Fifteen patients underwent epicardial LV pacing, and 8 underwent endocardial LV pacing because of an unsuitable coronary sinus. All LV leads were placed at the anterolateral LV wall. Six months after implant, echocardiography and Doppler tissue imaging were performed. LV wall velocities and regional EMDs (time interval between the onset of the QRS and local ventricular systolic motion) were calculated for the 4 LV walls and compared for each patient between right ventricular (RV) and BVP. The amplitude of regional LV contractility was also assessed. Epicardial BVP reduced the septal wall EMD by 11% versus RV pacing (p = 0.05) and the lateral wall EMD by 41% versus RV pacing (p <0.01). With endocardial BVP, the septal and lateral EMDs were 21.3% and 54%, respectively (p <0.01, compared with epicardial BVP). The mitral time-velocity integral increased by 40% with endocardial BVP versus 2% with epicardial BVP (p <0.01). The amplitude of the lateral LV wall systolic motion increased by 14% with epicardial BVP versus 31% with endocardial BVP (p = 0.01). This resulted in a LV shortening fraction increase of 25% in patients with endocardial BVP (p = 0.05). However, all patients were clinically improved at the end of follow-up. Thus, in heart failure patients with BVP, endocardial BVP provides more homogenous intraventricular resynchronization than epicardial BVP and is associated with better LV filling and systolic performance.     

Relative merits of M-mode echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging for prediction of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

M-mode echocardiography (using the septal-to-posterior wall motion delay [SPWMD]) and color-coded tissue Doppler imaging (TDI; using the septal-to-lateral delay in peak systolic velocity) have been proposed for assessment of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony and prediction of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In this study, a head-to-head comparison between M-mode echocardiography and color-coded TDI was performed for assessment of LV dyssynchrony and prediction of response to CRT. Consecutive (n = 98) patients with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association class III/IV), LV ejection fraction < or =35%, and QRS duration >120 ms underwent CRT. Before pacemaker implantation, LV dyssynchrony was assessed by M-mode echocardiography (SPWMD) and color-coded TDI (septal-to-lateral delay). At baseline and 6 months after implantation, clinical and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. SPWMD measurement was not feasible in 41% of patients due to akinesia of the septal and/or posterior walls or poor acoustic windows. Conversely, the septal-to-lateral delay could be assessed in 96% of patients. At 6-month follow-up, 75 patients (77%) were classified as responders to CRT (improvement > or =1 New York Heart Association class). The sensitivity and specificity of SPWMD were lower compared with those of septal-to-lateral delay (66% vs 90%, p <0.05; 50% vs 82%, p = NS, respectively). In conclusion, LV dyssynchrony assessment was feasible in 59% of patients with M-mode echocardiography compared with 96% (p <0.05) when color-coded TDI was used. Color-coded TDI was superior to M-mode echocardiography for prediction of response to CRT.     

Analysis of Left Ventricular Regional Dyssynchrony: Comparison between Real Time 3D Echocardiography and Tissue Doppler Imaging

Background: There is a paucity of information concerning left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony assessment by real time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (RT3DE) versus tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Aims: To compare RT3DE and TDI LV dyssynchrony assessment. Methods: A prospective study of 92 individuals (56 men, age 47 ± 10 years), 32 with dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP), and 60 healthy individuals. By RT3DE, we measured the LV% dyssynchrony index (DI) of 6, 12, and 16 segments (SDI). By pulsed-wave TDI, we measured the QS electromechanical interval in the basal segments of the mitral valve annulus of the septum, the lateral, anterior and inferior walls, and the TDI% DI. Results: In the normal group, the 3D DI was 1.1 ± 0.8%, 1.4 ± 1.3%, 1.8 ± 1.7%, for 6 segments, 12 segments, and SDI, respectively. The correlation coefficient (Pearson's r) for the TDI DI and SDI was r = 0.2381 (P = 0.0470). In CMP group, the 3D DI was 4.6 ± 5.4%, 7.9 ± 7.1%, 11.1 ± 7.1%, for 6 segments, 12 segments, and SDI, respectively. The correlation coefficient for TDI DI and SDI was r = 0.7838 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: We observed a good correlation between RT3DE and tissue Doppler LV dyssynchrony assessment in patients with advanced heart failure.     

Improvement of left ventricular wall synchronization with multisite ventricular pacing in heart failure: a prospective study using Doppler tissue imaging

We sought to assess right, left and biventricular pacing effects on myocardial function by using pulsed-Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) and automated border detection (ABD) techniques which provide electromechanical delay (EMD) assessment of the different left ventricular walls. METHODS: 15 patients (67+/-7 years) with drug-resistant primitive dilated cardiomyopathy and QRS> or =140 ms received a pacemaker for multisite ventricular pacing. Echocardiography was performed after 1 month of biventricular pacing (BVP). Echocardiographic measurements were recorded during spontaneous rhythm (SpR), right ventricular pacing (RVP), left ventricular pacing (LVP) and BVP. RESULTS: LV ejection fraction was statistically similar between the four rhythms. BVP showed a significant EMD decrease for the lateral LV wall vs. SpR, RVP and even LVP. LVP resulted in significantly longer aortic pre-ejection time vs. BVP while the EMD temporal dispersion (time between the shortest regional EMD and the longest one) was similar in the two modes. CONCLUSIONS: BVP and LVP substantially reduce the EMD temporal dispersion of the four LV walls, but with a longer aortic pre-ejection time for LVP. In RVP, LVP and BVP, the septal LV wall is always activated later than during SpR. BVP and LVP are associated with a mitral regurgitation reduction.     

Tissue Doppler derived mechanical dyssynchrony does not change after cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background: Mechanical left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, as determined by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), predicts response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, changes in TDI mechanical dyssynchrony after CRT implantation have only limited investigation. Our objective was to detect changes in the extent and location of TDI mechanical dyssynchrony pre‐ and post‐CRT, and to explore their relationship in response to CRT. Methods: Thirty‐nine consecutive patients undergoing CRT implantation for chronic heart failure underwent TDI analysis pre‐CRT and up to 12 months post‐CRT. Regional dyssynchrony was determined by the time to systolic peak velocity of opposing LV walls. Dyssynchrony was defined as a difference in time to peak contraction of >105 msec. Two patients were excluded, as suitable coronary venous access was not available. Results: Of the 37 patients, 28 (76%) had significant mechanical dyssynchrony pre‐CRT. Of those with dyssynchrony, 18 (64%) had septal delay and 10 (36%) had LV free wall delay. Post‐CRT, 29 (78%) patients had significant mechanical dyssynchrony, 17 (59%) with septal delay, and 12 (41%) with LV free wall delay. There was no difference in both the amount of dyssynchrony (P = 0.8) or the location of the dyssynchrony (P = 0.5), before and after CRT, even though 28 (76%) were considered responders based on symptomatic and echocardiographic parameters. Conclusion: The TDI‐derived dyssynchrony does not change with CRT despite significant symptomatic and echocardiographic improvement in cardiac function. The TDI is of limited utility for monitoring response to CRT. (Echocardiography 2011;28:961‐967)     

Usefulness of bifocal pacing in patients with heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay

BACKGROUND: Bifocal pacing (BFP) has been proposed as a feasible alternative to cardiac resynchronization therapy. AIM: To evaluate BFP in patients with severe heart failure and significant intraventricular conduction delay and to compare it with biventricular pacing (BVP). METHODS: Echocardiographic examination including TDI and invasive measurement of haemodynamics was performed under basal conditions, during BFP and during BVP. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included: 29 with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), 21 with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). LV dp/dt(max) increased during BFP compared to the basal state (13.4%, 95% CI 9.2-17.6%, p<0.0001) and a further increase was achieved during BVP (29.5%, 95% CI 23.7-35.4%, p<0.0001). A significant correlation was found between the distance of the right ventricular apical and outflow tract leads and percentage of dp/dt(max) increase in IDCM patients (r=0.72), but not in IHD patients. Interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) decreased in BFP (43+/-22 ms vs. 53+/-31 ms, p=0.006), but BVP produced even shorter IVMD (22+/-19 ms, p<0.0001). In all patients, regional systolic contraction times were significantly shortened, corresponding with prolongation of the respective regional diastolic filling times during both BFP (p<0.05 for all segments) and BVP (p<0.001 for all segments). CONCLUSIONS: BFP improves LV haemodynamics by decreasing the inter- and intraventricular conduction delays. The leads in the right ventricle should be placed at the longest achievable distance. BVP is superior to BFP.     

Left ventricular hypertrophy and its regression in essential arterial hypertension. A tissue Doppler imaging study

The mitral annulus velocities of Doppler transmitral flow and pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were sampled by echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in 118 never-treated essential hypertensive patients with normal systolic function and compared with those of 59 normotensive healthy subjects matched for age and sex. A selected group (n = 26) of the hypertensive study population was observed after 1 year of pharmacologic antihypertensive treatment to determine the behavior of TDI parameters in relation to eventual regression of LV hypertrophy (LVH). We found that the TDI early myocardial diastolic wave (E(m)) was significantly lower both in concentric and eccentric LVH. In addition, TDI late myocardial diastolic wave (A(m)) was significantly higher in concentric remodeling and concentric and eccentric hypertrophy. The TDI E(m)/A(m) ratio was significantly lower in all geometric remodeling subgroups. The E/A ratio Doppler transmitral flow velocity measured showed that of the 118 patients, only 32 (25%) could really be discriminated from normal, whereas individual analysis for TDI E(m)/A(m) at the mitral annulus septal level showed that of 118 patients 108 (91%) could be discriminated from normal P < .001). The LV mass was significantly less after 1 year of treatment (LVH regression), and TDI parameters showed a trend toward normalization, in particular of TDI E(m)/A(m) at the annular septal level. Pulsed-wave TDI analysis could enable not only the early assessment of whether a patient is still in an adaptive or compensatory phase before transition to irreversible damage (pathologic phase) but also the detection of precocious LV global diastolic dysfunction. With regard to this, more extensive randomized studies are needed to evaluate the effect of different pharmacologic treatments (calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, angiotensin I and II inhibitors) on TDI parameters.     

Effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on coronary blood flow: evaluation by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography

BACKGROUND: Relatively limited and conflicting data are available on the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on coronary blood flow (CBF). AIMS: To investigate changes in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) flow under different CRT pacing modes by means of transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTE). METHODS: Twenty-two responders to CRT (67+/-11 years) with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy underwent TTE assessment of LAD flow and Tissue Velocity Imaging during 4 programming modes: intrinsic conduction (IC), right ventricular pacing (RV), simultaneous biventricular pacing (BVP), BVP with left ventricular (LV) pre-activation. RESULTS: Mean coronary flow velocity (CFV) was increased by simultaneous BVP (p=0.0063 vs. IC) and BVP with LV pre-activation (p<0.0001 vs. IC; p=0.027 vs. simultaneous BVP). Peak CFV and LAD flow velocity/time integral were highest during BVP with LV pre-activation. A reduction in septal-to-lateral delay and an increase in peak systolic velocity in the basal septum were observed during simultaneous BVP and BVP with LV pre-activation. CONCLUSIONS: In CRT responders with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, an increase in LAD flow, assessed by TTE, was observed during simultaneous BVP and BVP with LV pre-activation. This was associated with an improvement in regional myocardial contraction and a decrease in intraventricular dyssynchrony.     

Acute biventricular pacing after cardiac surgery has no influence on regional and global left ventricular systolic function.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy has been shown to improve systolic function in patients with advanced chronic heart failure and electromechanical delay (QRS width > 120 ms). However, the effect of acute biventricular (BiV) pacing on perioperative haemodynamic changes is not well defined. In the present study, acute changes in regional left ventricular (LV) systolic function determined by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and global LV systolic function determined by the continuous cardiac output method were measured during various pacing configurations in patients with depressed LV systolic function undergoing heart surgery. METHODS: Twenty-six patients (age 68 +/- 8 years, 15 males) with depressed systolic LV function (LV ejection fraction 120 ms undergoing temporary epicardial BiV pacing after aortocoronary bypass and valve surgery were included. QRS duration on surface electrocardiogram (ECG), TDI (systolic velocities of septal and lateral mitral annulus), cardiac index (CI), right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCW) were measured during various pacing configurations [no pacing (intrinsic rhythm), right atrial-biventricular (RA-BiV pacing), right atrial-left ventricular (RA-LV), right atrial-right ventricular (RA-RV), and AAI pacing]. RESULTS: There were no differences in QRS duration during intrinsic rhythm, RA-BiV pacing, and AAI pacing. However, RA-LV and RA-RV stimulations showed a longer QRS duration (P < 0.01 vs. intrinsic rhythm, RA-BiV pacing, and AAI, respectively). Tissue Doppler velocities of the septal and lateral mitral annulus were comparable in all pacing modes. Neither CI nor PAP or PCW showed significant differences during the various pacing configurations. There was a positive correlation between regional (TDI) and global (CI) parameters of LV systolic function. Conclusions Biventricular pacing after heart surgery does not improve parameters of regional and global LV systolic function acutely in patients with heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay and, thus, may not reflect changes observed with chronic BiV pacing.     

Usefulness of quantitative gated single-photon emission computed tomography to evaluate ventricular synchrony in patients receiving biventricular pacing

Quantitative gated single-photon emission computed tomography was performed in 10 patients before and shortly after (<1 month) receiving biventricular pacing (BVP). They were divided into 2 groups (responder and nonresponder groups) on the basis of clinical status and echocardiographic parameters 18 +/- 6 months later. In the responder group, left ventricular synchrony shortly after BVP improved significantly compared with that before BVP (p <0.05), but there was no change in the nonresponder group.     

Tissue Doppler imaging in the evaluation of the regional diastolic function in chagas' disease.

AIMS: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the regional diastolic function in Chagas' disease using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were evaluated and divided into three groups: group 0, control; group 1, chagasic patients with normal ECG; and group 2, chagasic patients with abnormal ECG. The following parameters were evaluated: E and A waves, E/A ratio, deceleration time and the isovolumic relaxation time by pulsed wave Doppler and analysis of early (e') and late (a') filling waves by means of TDI, in basal segment of the septal, anterior, inferior, posterior and lateral walls of the left ventricle. The only index of the transmitral flow that presented a significant difference between the chagasic patients and the controls was the deceleration time. As regards the TDI, a significant difference occurred between the various groups in relation to the e' wave, especially in the septal, inferior and posterior walls of the left ventricle. CONCLUSION: TDI proved itself a more sensitive technique for the study of the diastolic function in Chagas' disease than conventional Doppler echocardiography, bringing to light regional abnormalities and allowing differentiation between normal and chagasic individuals with or without cardiomyopathy. TDI could be potentially useful in clinical work and in the stratification of risk of these patients.     

Quantification of Left Ventricular Asynchrony Throughout the Whole Cardiac Cycle with a Computed Algorithm: Application for Optimizing Resynchronization Therapy

Introduction: Measurement of left ventricular (LV) asynchrony is usually determined on single time points from spectral tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) scans that are frequently difficult to identify or not representative of the whole cardiac cycle. Our aim was to validate a new asynchrony index that evaluates the motion of the LV walls throughout the whole cardiac cycle.
Methods and Results: Ten healthy volunteers and 50 patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) were studied with TDI. Wall displacement tracings from the septal and lateral LV walls were analyzed. Cross-correlation was calculated and 2 indices were obtained to assess LV asynchrony: the time delay and the superposition index (SI) between wall displacements. These results were compared between healthy volunteers and CRT patients, and between responders and nonresponders to CRT. Also, the optimal interventricular (VV) interval was based upon the best matching level. Volunteers showed lower asynchrony indices (83 ± 2% SI, 17 ± 8 ms time delay) as compared with CRT patients (63 ± 15% SI, 73 ± 60 ms time delay, P < 0.05). Responders also had more LV dyssynchrony than nonresponders (58 ± 15% SI and 92 ± 66 ms vs 68 ± 12% and 48 ± 34 ms, P < 0.05). The optimum VV interval selected by the computed algorithm showed an excellent concordance (Kappa = 0.90, P < 0.05) with that determined by other validated methods for optimizing the programming of CRT devices.
Conclusions: This approach allows measurement of LV intraventricular asynchrony throughout the cardiac cycle, being useful to determine the optimum VV interval and to select candidates for CRT.     

Pulsed tissue Doppler and strain imaging discloses early signs of infiltrative cardiac disease: a study on patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is a hereditary systemic amyloidosis with cardiac involvement. As early identification of the cardiac involvement is of major clinical interest we performed this study to test the hypothesis that tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and strain imaging (SI) might disclose cardiac involvement in patients with early stages of FAP. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with FAP and 36 healthy controls were studied. Standard M-mode and Doppler echocardiography were performed. TDI and SI were used to assess the regional longitudinal left ventricular (LV) lateral and septal and right ventricular (RV) wall functions. All time intervals were corrected for heart rate by dividing with R-R interval and presented as percentage. RESULTS: We found that patients in comparison with controls had increased LV and RV wall thickness and by using TDI a prolonged isovolumic relaxation time (IVRt) at the septal segment (15.0+/-7.0 vs 10.7+/-4.1%, p<0.05) and prolonged isovolumic contraction time (IVCt) at LV lateral (12.8+/-4.3 vs 10.1+/-3.3%, p<0.05), septal (12.5+/-3.5 vs 8.9+/-1.9%, p<0.001) and RV free wall segments (12.0+/-3.6 vs 8.3+/-2.1%, p<0.001). Strain was reduced at LV lateral basal segment (-4.6+/-14.0 vs -20.2+9.1, p<0.001), RV free wall mid segment (-16.2+/-12.8 vs -29.4+/-15.2) as well as both septal segments (-4.1+/-11.7 vs -16.2+/-9.0%, p<0.001, -8.8+/-11.5 vs -19.4+/-8.4%, p<0.001 for septal basal and mid-segment). Even in the absence of septal hypertrophy the septal strain was reduced and the regional IVCt was prolonged. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first clinical study using TDI and strain in patients with FAP showing functional abnormalities before any morphological echocardiographic abnormalities were present. Both the left and right heart functions are involved and the disease should therefore be regarded as biventricular.     

Usefulness of tissue Doppler imaging for demonstrating altered septal contraction sequence during dual-chamber pacing in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Dual-chamber pacing reduces left ventricular (LV) outflow obstruction in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), the mechanism of which lies in pacing-induced paradoxic septal motion. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) could demonstrate changes in the septal contraction sequence during dual-chamber pacing in patients with HC. TDI was performed in 16 patients (5 women; mean age 63+/-11 years) who underwent dual-chamber pacing for 7.6+/-2.1 year. With and without pacing, the time to peak systolic myocardial velocity was measured from the basal, mid, and distal segments in the 4 different LV walls. Without pacing, there was almost no longitudinal segmental asynchrony. During pacing, however, marked longitudinal segmental asynchrony appeared, especially in the anteroseptal wall (from p=NS to p<0.01 by analysis of variance) and the ventricular septum (from p<0.05 to p<0.01), with the time to peak velocity extremely prolonged at the distal segments. This was associated with a modest but significant decrease in the LV pressure gradient (from 20+/-8 to 14+/-7 mm Hg, p<0.01). In patients with obstructive HC, altered septal contraction sequence accounts for the reduced LV outflow obstruction during dual-chamber pacing, which was clearly demonstrated by TDI.     

Association between intraventricular myocardial systolic dyssynchrony and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: The distribution and magnitude of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy are not uniform in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which results in regional heterogeneity of LV systolic and diastolic function. The aim of the study was to evaluate LV regional systolic asynchrony in patients with HCM by pulsed Doppler myocardial imaging (DMI). METHODS: We studied 35 HCM patients and 45 age- and sex-matched controls. By the use of DMI, the following five different basal myocardial segments were measured: systolic peak velocity (Sm); early- and late-diastolic peak velocities; pre-contraction time (Q-Sm) (from the beginning of Q-wave of ECG to the onset of Sm); intraventricular systolic delay (IntraV-Del) (difference of Q-Sm in different LV myocardial segments); interventricular delay (InterV-Del) (difference of Q-Sm between the most delayed LV segment and right ventricular lateral wall). RESULTS: DMI analysis showed in HCM lower myocardial systolic and early-diastolic peak velocities of all the analyzed segments. As for time intervals, controls showed homogeneous systolic activation of the ventricular walls. Conversely, HCM group, despite the absence of intraventricular conduction defects by surface ECG, showed significant both Inter- and IntraV-Del (P < 0.0001). Linear regression models pointed out independent positive associations of IntraV-Del with LV outflow gradient and septal wall thickness in HCM (P < 0.001). An IntraV-Del >30 msec well differentiated controls and HCM. In addition, an IntraV-Del > 45 msec (ROC curve) identified a subgroup of HCM patients with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia during Holter monitoring (90.9% sensitivity and 95.8% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: The impairment of intrarventricular systolic synchronicity is strongly related to increased septal thickness and LV outflow-tract gradient in HCM. DMI analysis may be able to select subgroups of HCM patients at an increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias.     

Tissue Doppler and strain imaging: a new tool for early detection of cardiac amyloidosis

Using traditional echocardiography, the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is often only possible in advanced stage when recommended therapies may have adverse effects. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether additional information can be derived from Tissue and strain Doppler imaging (TDI and SDI). Forty patients with systemic amyloidosis and 24 healthy subjects underwent traditional, tissue and strain Doppler echocardiography. Patients were classified having CA if mean wall thickness (mT), was half of the sum septum and posterior wall thickness, was ≥12 mm. The following parameters were evaluated: peak early diastolic velocity (Em) as index of ventricular relaxation, mitral E-wave to Em ratio (E/Em) as index of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure and mean LV strain peak curves (mSt) as global long-axis contraction index. In non cardiac amyloidosis (NCA), both Em and mSt were lower than in age matched controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively) and higher than in CA (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). Both Em and mSt were related to mT (p < 0.001). A significant (p < 0.01) nonlinear relation was observed between plasma terminal of pro B-natriuretic peptide and mT, Em, E/Em and mSt. TDI and SDI are able to detect amyloid myocardial involvement in such an early stage that cannot be evidenced by using traditional echocardiography.     

Tissue Doppler imaging provides incremental prognostic value in patients with systemic hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the prognostic value of left ventricular (LV) mitral annular velocities measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in hypertensive patients with echocardiographic evidence of LV hypertrophy. BACKGROUND: Echo LV hypertrophy and LV geometry provide additional predictive value of all-cause mortality beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Limited data exist regarding the predictive value of TDI velocities for cardiovascular risk stratification in treated hypertensive patients. METHODS: Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms were obtained in 252 consecutive subjects, including 174 subjects with systemic hypertension and 78 age-matched normal subjects. The end point was cardiac death in subsequent median follow-up of 19 months. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (7.54%) died of cardiac causes. The TDI mitral annulus systolic velocity and the early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Em) were significantly lower in the non-survivors (all P < 0.001). The pseudonormal (PN) or restrictive filling pattern (RFP) was associated with cardiac mortality. The other parameters associated with cardiac mortality were LV ejection fraction, LV mass index, inter-ventricular septal wall thickness in diastole and the ratio of early mitral inflow to early myocardial velocity. In multivariate analysis, Em, inter-ventricular septal wall thickness in diastole and either PN or RFP were the strongest predictors. The addition of Em < 3.5 cm/s significantly improved the outcome of a model that contained clinical risk factors, inter-ventricular septal wall thickness in diastole > 1.4 cm and either PN or RFP (P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Early diastolic mitral annulus velocity measured by TDI provides prognostic information, incremental to clinical data and standard echocardiographic variables, for risk stratification of hypertensive patients under treatment.     

Analysis of inter- and intraventricular asynchrony by tissue Doppler echocardiography

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a promising non-pharmacological treatment option for patients (pts) with severe severe heart failure (CHF), systolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, and ventricular conduction abnormalities (VCA). Pt selection for CRT, however, is still controversial. Tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) can be used to analyze regional wall motion with high temporal resolution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 33 CHF pts with VCA (QRS width > or =140 ms) and 20 normal probands, left and right ventricular (RV) filling and emptying were analyzed by flow and tissue Doppler to assess regional (anterior, lateral, inferior, and septal) asynchrony within the LV as well as asynchrony between the RVand LV. All time measurements were corrected for a heart rate of 60 bpm. Results Maximum interventricular and segmental intraventricular delay was 30 ms in the normals. LV asynchrony, defined as a regional delay of > or =40 ms, was found in 29/33 (88%) of the CHF pts, in 4 cases there was synchronous LV contraction despite VCA. In the pts with LV asynchrony, 22 (67%) showed the maximum delay in the lateral wall, 7 (21%) in the septum. Inter- and intra-ventricular asynchrony correlated weakly. CONCLUSIONS: In many CHF pts with VCA, there is a delay both between the two ventricles, and among different LV regions. Predominantly but not exclusively, the LV lateral wall shows the maximum intra-LV delay. Some CHF pts, however, seem to have a synchronous LV contraction despite VCA. TDE thus adds important information for pt selection with respect to CRT.     

Evidence of left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction by color tissue Doppler imaging despite normal ejection fraction in patients on chronic hemodialysis program

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for about half of deaths and are the major cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study is to assess left ventricular (LV) longitudinal myocardial functions by color tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients with chronic renal failure on a regular hemodialysis program. Methods: Thirty-one patients on a regular hemodialysis program (mean age 47 ± 12 years; 17 males, 14 females) were included into the study. Twenty-three healthy subjects (mean age 44 ± 8 years; 15 males, 8 females) were studied as a control group. The patients had been on maintenance hemodialysis for at least 1 month and hemodialysis sessions were three times per week. For color TDI, apical two- and four-chamber views of left ventricle were used. Sample volumes were placed on the mid-left ventricle in the inner half of the myocardium at the septum, lateral, inferior, and anterior walls. Peak LV strain, peak systolic strain rate, peak early diastolic strain rate, peak late diastolic strain rate, peak systolic tissue velocity, peak early diastolic tissue velocity, and peak late diastolic tissue velocity values were measured. Results: Mean peak LV strain, mean peak systolic strain rate, and mean peak systolic tissue velocity values were all lower in the hemodialysis group. Although mean peak late diastolic strain rate and mean peak late diastolic tissue velocity values were similar between the groups, mean peak early diastolic strain rate and mean peak early diastolic tissue velocity values were lower in the hemodialysis group. Conclusion: Patients with chronic renal failure on regular hemodialysis program show significant alterations at LV longitudinal myocardial function parameters assessed by color TDI.     

Echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dyssynchrony validation in patients with heart failure using sequential biventricular pacing

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the relationship between hemodynamic and ventricular dyssynchrony parameters in patients undergoing simultaneous and sequential biventricular pacing (BVP). BACKGROUND: Various echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dyssynchrony have been proposed to screen and optimize BVP therapy. METHODS: Forty-one patients with heart failure undergoing BVP implantation were studied. Echocardiography coupled with tissue tracking and pulsed Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) was performed before and after BVP implantation and after three months of optimized BVP. Indexes of inter- or intraventricular dyssynchrony were correlated with hemodynamic changes during simultaneous and sequential BVP (10 intervals of right ventricular [RV] or left ventricular [LV] pre-excitation). RESULTS: Variations in intra-LV delay(peak), intra-LV delay(onset), and index of LV dyssynchrony measured by pulsed DTI were highly correlated with those of cardiac output (r = -0.67, r = -0.64, and r = -0.67, respectively; p < 0.001) and mitral regurgitation (r = 0.68, r = 0.63, and r = 0.68, respectively; p < 0.001), whereas variations in the extent of myocardium displaying delayed longitudinal contraction (r = -0.48 and r = 0.51, respectively; p < 0.05) and the variations in septal-to-posterior wall motion delay (r = -0.41, p < 0.05 and r = 0.24, p = NS, respectively) were less correlated. The changes in interventricular dyssynchrony were not significantly correlated (p = NS). Compared with simultaneous BVP, individually optimized sequential BVP significantly increased cardiac output (p < 0.01), decreased mitral regurgitation (p < 0.05), and improved all parameters of intra-LV dyssynchrony (p < 0.01). At three months, a significant reverse mechanical LV remodeling was observed with significantly decreased LV volumes (p < 0.01) associated with an increased LV ejection fraction (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Specific echocardiographic measurements of ventricular dyssynchrony are highly correlated with hemodynamic changes and may be a useful adjunct in the selection and optimization of BVP. Individually optimized sequential BVP provided a significant early hemodynamic improvement compared with simultaneous BVP.