Evaluation of left ventricular systolic function and synchronicity in patients with maintenance hemodialysis by layer-specific strain

Abstract

Objective To explore the systolic function and synchronicity of left ventricle (LV) in patients with maintenance hemodialysis(MHD) by layer-specific strain. Methods Forty-three patients with MHD and 48 healthy controls were studied. Three consecutive cardiac cycles two-dimensional dynamic images including standard LV apical two-chamber, long-axis and four-chamber views and LV short-axis views at the levels of basal, middle and apical were acquired. A quantitative software called EchoPAC was used to analyze longitudinal strain(LS) and circumferential strain(CS) of these six dynamic images and peak strain dispersion(PSD) was automatic computed by the software. The difference of these parameters between the two groups and the correlation between PSD and other parameters were studied. Results Parameters of global layer-specific strain: compared with the control group, global LS and CS of subendocardial, midmyocardial, epicardial and full-thickness myocardium layers were decreased in the MHD group (P 0.05). Parameters of synchronicity: PSD of MHD group was larger than that of control group(t=6.094, P<0.001). PSD was positively correlated with longitudinal strain of full-thickness (GLS) in MHD group (rs=0.478, P=0.039). Conclusions Layer-specific strain can noninvasively and accurately quantitate left ventricular systolic function and synchronicity in patients with MHD. Key words: Echocardiography; Renal dialysis; Ventricular function, left; Layer-specific strain