Abstract
Background: Left ventricular (LV) strain rate (SR) at systole (S) and isovolumic relaxation (IVR) by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) are reported as an index of LV contractility and relaxation. LV rotation contributes a part of LV ejection fraction. However, heart is a complex organ that undergoes cyclic changes in multiple directions, thus mechanics seem to be best represented by 3D-STE. We developed a novel software and 3D-STE with high volume rates to measure LV phasic and global SR and rotation. Methods: We examined the reproducibility of the novel 3D-STE in 20 subjects. We measured 5 phasic SRs {SR at isovolumic contraction (IC), S, IVR, early diastole (ED) and atrial contraction (AC)} in longitudinal, circumferential and radial direction and slice rotation in 60 controls (age 69±10), 90 hypertensive patients (HTN) and 17 hypertensive heart failure (HHF) (age 70±12). HTN was divided into 2 groups; A: HTN without hypertrophy (LVH) (n=45, age 70±8) and B: HTN with LVH (n=45, age 70±5). LV slice rotation was measured dividing LV into 9 slices from base to apex according to long axis. Results: The interobserver correlation coefficient and variability in radial SR-S from data format by 2 operators were 0.92 and 6.7±22.4%. LV radial SR-IC and SR-S in HTN reduced compared to control and those in HHF further reduced (SR-IC; control: 1.16±0.57, A: 1.05±0.44*, B: 0.82±0.32*. HHF: 0.75±0.39*. SR-S; 2.59±0.61, 2.27±0.55*, 1.88±0.34*, 1.72±0.34*, *p<0.05 vs control). LV radial SR-IVR and SR-ED in HTN reduced and those in HHF further reduced (SR-IVR; -0.94±0.58, -0.66±0.39*, -0.50±0.34*, -0.34±0.23*. SR-ED; -1.28±0.51, -1.05±0.42*, -0.82±0.25, -0.68±0.23*). LV circumferential SR-AC reduced in HHF. LV slice rotation angle decreased from apex to base (Figure). Conclusion: The phasic and global SR and slice rotation of LV myocardium could be assessed by 3D-STE with high volume rates. This method may be useful to evaluate LV properties including contractility and relaxation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
