GLOBAL LOGITUDINAL STRAIN IN HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS DURING PREGNANCY AS A PREDICTOR FOR EARLY DETECTION OF SUBCLINICAL LEFT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION

Abstract

Objective: To identify the role of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the early diagnosis of LV dysfunction among pregnant women with hypertensive disorders. Design and method: Cross-sectional study was conducted at one of the heart centers in Iraq from November 2020 – July 2021, included pregnant women with hypertensive disorder. Echocardiographic data was collected using GE (Vivid E9) diagnostic ultrasound equipment with (M5ScD) MHz transducer. Pregnant women were classified into three groups according to the hypertensive disorders: chronic hypertension (HTN), gestational HTN, and preeclampsia (PE). Results: A 60 pregnant women were enrolled in the study, mean age (32.7 ± 5.8) years, 25% with chronic HTN, 33% with gestational HTN, and 42% with PE. The mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were (130.1 ± 10.8) mmHg and (79 ± 7.9) mmHg; respectively, 90% were on medication, and 18% were diabetic. See Table 1. Conclusions: Echocardiography is a valuable tool in diagnosis of LV hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in all types of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Subclinical cardiac dysfunction in pregnancy related hypertension and preeclampsia can be early detected by impaired GLS.