Assessment of short-term effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy by speckle tracking strain imaging

Abstract

Objective To assess the short-term effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by speckle tracking strain imaging(STI). Methods Sixteen chronic heart failure patients(CHF) with CRT were enrolled. The time to peak systolic longitudinal strain and the time to peak systolic radial strain were derived from the LV apical views, and the time to peak systolic circumferential strain was derived from the parasternal short axis. The standard deviation for time to peak longitudinal, radial and circumferential strain in the 18 segments (LS-SD18, RS-SD18, CS-SD18) and the maximal temporal difference of any two segments(LS-dif, RS-dif, CS-dif) were calculated as a strain-derived dyssynchrony index. The difference of LS-SDIS, RS-SD18, CS-SD18 between 1 month,3 months after CRT and baseline (△LS-SD18, △RS-SD18, △CS-SD18) was calculated. The correlation between △LS-SD18,ARS-SD18,△CS-SD18 and the reduction of end-systolic volume at follow-up(△ESV%) were analyzed. Results The LS-SD18, RS-SD18,CS-SD18 and RS-dif were decreased significantly 1 month,3 months after CRT.△RS-SD18 was correlated with △ESV% 3 months after CRT(r = 0. 694). Conclusions The strain-derived dyssynchrony index is great significient for short-term effect of CRT. Key words: Echocardiography; Heart failure; congestive; Cardiac resynchronization therapy; Speckle tracking imaging