Value of strain and peak strain dispersion for assessment of left ventricular longitudinal contraction function with essential hypertensive patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the value of longitudinal strain and peak strain dispersion in the evaluation of left ventricular longitudinal strain and longitudinal strain synchrony in essential hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction. Methods A total of 50 essential hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction were collected as hypertensive group, they were divided into left ventricular hypertrophy( LVH) group (n=29) and non left ventricular hypertrophy(NLVH) group(n=21), and 26 healthy volunteers were collected as control group, two-dimensional echocardiography was performed. Peak systolic longitudinal strain(LPS), global LPS (GLPS), time to LPS (TTPLS) and longitudinal peak strain dispersion (PSD) were determined by the offline EchoPAC 201.54 software. It can automatically obtaine the bull′s-eye map of the corresponding 18-segmental LPS and TTPLS. Results Left atrial diameter (LAD) was higher in NLVH group than that in control group(P 0.05). LPS and TTPLS: LPS of basal, middle, apical left ventricular segments were significantly lower and TTPLS of middle left ventricular segments were significantly longer in the LVH group than those in the control group and NLVH group (all P<0.05). LPS of middle left ventricular segments was significantly lower in the NLVH group and TTPLS of basal left ventricular segments was obviously greater in the LVH group than those in the control group (all P<0.05). PSD increased and absolute value of GLPS decreased gradually in the control group, NLVH group and LVH group(all P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between absolute value of GLPS and PSD in the hypertensive group (r=-0.61, P<0.01). Measurement of PSD had well repeatability and stability. Conclusions Longitudinal strain and PSD are promising approach to evaluate left ventricular longitudinal systolic function earlier in hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction. It has well repeatability and stability and it provides help for clinical diagnosis and efficacy assessment. Key words: Echocardiography; Hypertension; Ventricular function, left; Strain; Peak strain dispersion