Global Longitudinal Myocardial Strain Research Articles

Molecular genetic indicators of the probability of early myocardial systolic dysfunction signs in doxorubicin chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer of moderate and low HFA-ICOS risk groups

Aim. To study the association of rs2232228 (HAS3 gene), rs2229774 (RARG gene), rs1056892 (CBR3 gene), rs1786814 (CELF4 gene), rs1695 (GSTP1 gene), rs8187710 (ABCC2 gene), rs7853758 (SLC28A3 gene), rs243865 (MMP­2 gene), rs243866 (MMP­2 gene), rs35068180 (MMP­3 gene), rs522616 (MMP­3 gene), rs679620 (MMP­3 gene), rs17576 (MMP­9 gene), rs3918242 (MMP­9 gene) with the probability of early doxorubicin cardiotoxicity signs in patients with breast cancer of moderate and low HFA-ICOS risk groups.Material and methods. The study included 100 patients (women, over 18 years old) diagnosed with breast cancer who received chemotherapy using doxorubicin.To identify early cardiotoxicity signs, echocardiography was performed before, immediately after and 12 months after the end of chemotherapy. The status of polymorphic variants of the studied genes was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results. Based on the decrease in global longitudinal myocardial strain (>12%) immediately after and 12 months after the end of chemotherapy, the patients were divided into two following groups: A — early signs of myocardial dysfunction can be diagnosed after the end of chemotherapy (19%); B — early signs of myocardial dysfunction are detected for the first time only 12 months after the chemotherapy end (17%). In patients from category A, a number of allelic variants and genotypes with potential as independent factors for predicting the early signs of myocardial dysfunction were identified, with an emphasis on targets involved in metabolism and detoxification of doxorubicin and its derivatives. In category B, the greatest differences in the frequencies of allelic variants and genotypes were found among target genes encoding matrix metalloproteinases involved in the processes of response to the intensification of oxidative stress caused by doxorubicin and its derivatives.Conclusion. In total, patients in the low- and moderate-risk groups can be divided into at least 2 categories based on molecular genetic testing. For these categories, the development of early signs of doxorubicin-related myocardial dysfunction before the start of chemotherapy can be predicted.

Dynamics of global longitudinal strain of the left ventricular myocardium and blood biomarker levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or Janus kinase inhibitors

Objective: to study the dynamics of global longitudinal myocardial strain (GLS) using echocardiography (speckle tracking method) and blood biomarker levels (NT -proBNP, soluble ST2, sST2) in RA patients against a background of 12 months of therapy with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) or Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi). Material and methods. The study included 50 patients with RA (ACR/EULAR criteria, 2010): 84 % were women, median age 51.0 [40.0; 59.0] years, median duration of RA was 4.5 [3.0; 14.0] years, median DAS28 5.7 [5.2; 6.4] points. 78 % of patients were positive for IgM rheumatoid factor, 66 % for antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide. At the time of inclusion in the study, 38% of patients were receiving methotrexate, 38 % – leflunomide, 10 % – sulfasalazine, 12 % – hydroxychloroquine, 70 % – glucocorticoids, 82 % – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. 60 % of patients with RA had a history of inadequate efficacy of two or more DMARDs. After examination, all patients were prescribed bDMARDs or JAKi. TNF-α inhibitors were given to 38% of patients, anti-B-cell therapy – to 50% of patients, IL-6 inhibitors – to 4%, T-lymphocyte costimulation blockers – to 2 %, JAKi – to 6 % of RA patients. All patients with RA were examined before administration of bDMARDs and in dynamics after 12 months of treatment. Echocardiography was performed – tissue Dopplerography and evaluation by speckle tracking method of left ventricular myocardium GLS (GLD LVM); in blood serum the levels of NT-proBNP, sST2 were determined. The normal range for NT-proBNP was less than 125 pg/ml, and for sST2 less than 17.65 ng/ml. The control group consisted of 20 healthy subjects who were comparable in sex and age. RA patients and subjects in the control group had no cardiovascular disease. Results and discussion. After 12 months of bDMARDs therapy, GLS LVM increased and the frequency of reduced GLS LVM decreased by 47 % (p < 0.05). The indexed end-systolic volume of the left atrium also decreased. RA patients had higher values of NT-proBNP and sST2 compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The variations of NT-proBNP level in blood serum of RA patients after 12 months of therapy were statistically insignificant (p = 0.5). The level of sST2 in the serum of patients with RA decreased significantly after 12 months of therapy compared to baseline (p < 0.01). Direct correlations were found between the delta (Δ) of the level of sST2 and ΔDAS28, the level of ΔsST2 and ΔCRP, and ΔACCP. After 12 months of therapy, RA patients with persistent moderate/high disease activity had higher levels of systolic blood pressure and serum levels of NT-proBNP, lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) and GLS LVM than patients who had remission/low RA activity. There were no differences between groups in LVEF, LV size, LV myocardial mass index, and NT-proBNP levels. Negative correlations were observed between ΔGLD LVM and ΔESR and ΔsST2. Conclusion. In patients with RA, a decrease in disease activity on a background of therapy with bDMARDs and JAKi leads to an improvement in GLS LVM. Administration of bDMARDs in patients with active RA and established LV subclinical myocardial dysfunction may slow the progression of myocardial dysfunction. Serum sST2 and NT-proBNP levels were increased in patients with RA compared with the control group. After 12 months of therapy with bDMARDs, the level of sST2 in the serum of RA patients decreased significantly, and the level of NT-proBNP did not change in dynamics.

Approaches to early diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular toxicity induced by targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors in oncohematology: a literature review

The development of targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), as well as their implementation into clinical practice has allowed increasing the overall and event-free survival of oncohematological patients. Currently, assessment of the efficacy of a therapeutic strategy in each specific case includes the evaluation of an acceptable tolerability profile. The subject of discussion includes cardiovascular complications induced by target drugs and ICIs. The review mainly presents the issues of cardiovascular toxicity (CVT) in certain groups of oncohematological patients (with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma). The spectrum of cardiovascular adverse effects associated with targeted and ICI therapy in oncohematological practice is quite wide — coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, myocarditis, heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension. The high importance of the problem of using targeted and immunosuppressive therapy dictates the need to predict adverse effects. The diagnosis of heart failure (one of CVT manifestations) is based on determining the decreased left ventricular ejection fraction during echocardiography, less often — during cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; global longitudinal myocardial strain is a significant parameter of preclinical heart failure, which is determined using the speckle tracking technique. To determine vascular toxicity, a special attention is paid to the vascular wall structure and microcirculation parameters — capillary density at rest, percentage of capillary recovery and perfused capillaries, stiffness index for large blood vessels, reflection index for small arteries, laboratory markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, homocysteine, endothelin 1, vascular endothelial growth factor). CVT prevention presumes the determination of the risk group, correction of risk factors, and administration of protective therapy to very high and high-risk patients. One of the promising directions for preventing vascular toxicity is the use of sodium-glucose linked transporter-2 inhibitors.

Echocardiographic characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia survivors three months after hospital discharge

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that affects almost all organs and systems. The main target is the respiratory system, but cardiovascular involvement is also common. Today, it is relevant to study the effect of complicated COVID-19 course on the patient’s cardiovascular system after hospital discharge — in particular, echocardiographic parameters.Aim. To study the echocardiographic parameters of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia 3 months after discharge from the hospital.Material and methods.The study included 106 patients with documented COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients underwent a comprehensive examination during hospitalization and 3 months ± 2 weeks after hospital discharge. The mean age of participants was 47±16 years (from 19 to 84 years), while 49% were women.Results.Three months after discharge, the average body mass index of the subjects was 28,2±5,7 kg/m2. Obesity was noted in 37,1%, cardiovascular diseases — in 52%. According to echocardiography, the prevalence of right ventricular (RV) dilatation was 2,9%, a decrease in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) — 9,5%, grade ≥2 tricuspid regurgitation — 1,9%, pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary artery systolic pressure >36 mm Hg) — 3,8%. The mean value of RV global longitudinal myocardial strain (GLMS RV) and global longitudinal myocardial strain (GLES RV) was 19,6±4,5 and 20,6±4,6, respectively. We found moderate correlations between GLMS RV and blood flow time through the left ventricular outflow tract (OT) (r=-0,436), through the mitral valve (r=-0,390; both p<0,0001) and through the RVOT (r=-0,348; р=0,004), with cardiac index (CI) (r=0,316; p=0,009), as well as between GLES RV and blood flow time through the LVOT (r=-0,411; p<0,0001) and RVOT (r=-0,300; p=0,005), and with CI (r=0,302; p=0,004). At the same time, the correlation of GLES RV with RV fractional area change (FAC) was weak (r=-0,283; p=0,007), while there was no correlation with the TAPSE. In addition, correlation of GLMS RV with these parameters were not defined.Conclusion.Three months after COVID-19 pneumonia, RV strain parameters were shown to have stronger relationships with time characteristics of flows in LVOT and RVOT, as well as with CI, than with such generally accepted characteristics of RV function as FAC and TAPSE.

Association of free fatty acid binding protein with central aortic stiffness, myocardial dysfunction and preserved ejection fraction heart failure

There is an established link between cardiometabolic abnormality, central arterial stiffness, and preserved ejection fraction heart failure (HFpEF). Adipocyte free fatty acid binding protein (a-FABP) has been shown to signal endothelial dysfunction through fatty acid toxicity, though its role in mediating ventricular-arterial dysfunction remains unclear. We prospectively examined the associations of a-FABP with central arterial pressure using non-invasive applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor) and cardiac structure/function (i.e., tissue Doppler imaging [TDI] and global longitudinal myocardial strain [GLS]) in patients with cardiometabolic (CM) risk (n = 150) and HFpEF (n = 50), with healthy volunteers (n = 49) serving as a control. We observed a graded increase of a-FABP across the healthy controls, CM individuals, and HFpEF groups (all paired p < 0.05). Higher a-FABP was independently associated with higher central systolic and diastolic blood pressures (CSP/CPP), increased arterial augmentation index (Aix), lower early myocardial relaxation velocity (TDI-e′), higher left ventricle (LV) filling (E/TDI-e′) and worsened GLS (all p < 0.05). During a median of 3.85 years (interquartile range: 3.68–4.62 years) follow-up, higher a-FABP (cutoff: 24 ng/mL, adjusted hazard ratio: 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.001–1.02, p = 0.04) but not brain natriuretic peptide, and higher central hemodynamic indices were related to the incidence of heart failure (HF) in fully adjusted Cox models. Furthermore, a-FABP improved the HF risk classification over central hemodynamic information. We found a mechanistic pathophysiological link between a-FABP, central arterial stiffness, and myocardial dysfunction. In a population with a high metabolic risk, higher a-FABP accompanied by worsened ventricular-arterial coupling may confer more unfavorable outcomes in HFpEF.

Prospective study of ventricular function and myocardial deformation related to survival in acute Chagas disease: an experimental animal model.

ABSTRACTChagas disease (CD) has been changing from an endemic Latino-American disease to a condition found outside endemic regions, due to migratory movements. Although often subclinical, its acute phase can be lethal. This study aimed to assess survival during the acute phase of CD and its relationship with ventricular function in an experimental model. To this end, 30 Syrian hamsters were inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi (IG) and other 15 animals received saline solution (CG). Groups were monitored daily and submitted to echocardiography in two moments: before the challenge and 15 days post-infection. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal myocardial strain (GLS) of the LV were measured. The IG was divided into groups of animals with and without clinical signs of disease. ANOVA for mixed models was used to compare ventricular function parameters. Survival analysis was studied using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. The follow-up lasted 60 days. LVEF in IG was reduced through time (53.80 to 43.55%) compared to CG (57.86 to 59.73%) (p=0.002). There was also a reduction of GLS (−18.97% to −12.44%) in the IG compared to CG (p=0.012). Twelve animals from IG died compared to one animal from CG. Eleven out of the 12 animals from the IG group died before presenting with clinical signs of infection. Survival was reduced in the IG compared to CG over time (p=0.02). The reduced survival during the acute phase of this experimental model of Chagas disease was related to the significant reduction of LV function. The mortality rate in the IG was higher in the group presenting with clinical signs of infection.

Abstract 248: Prospective Study of Ventricular Function and Survival in Acute Phase of Chagas Disease: An Animal Experimental Model

Background: Acute Cardiomyopathy secondary to Chagas disease is often subclinical when related to vector transmission. However, cases related to non-vector transmission as in patients submitted to cardiac transplant may have fatal outcomes. This study aimed to assess survival during the acute phase of Chagas disease and its relation to the ventricular function in an animal experimental model. Methods: Female Syrian hamsters (n=45) were separated in two groups: control group (CG):15 animals injected with saline solution; and infected group (IG): 30 animals inoculated with 3,5x10 4 trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi,Y strain . Both groups were monitored daily and submitted to echocardiography with equipment dedicated to small animals (Vevo® 2100) in two different moments: baseline (before infection) and 15 days post infection. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal myocardial strain (GLS) of left ventricle were measured. The IG was divided into animals with and without clinical sign (CS+) of disease: weight or fur loss, mucous wounds and lethargy. ANOVA for mixed models was used to compare the ventricular function parameters among groups over time. Survival analysis was studied using Kaplan-Meier curves and logrank test. Results: Total time follow up was 60 days. LVEF in IG was significantly reduced through time (53.80 ± 4.95 to 43.55 ± 12.10%) compared to CG (57.86 ± 7.52 to 59.73 ± 5.87%) (p=0.002). There was also a significant reduction of GLS (-18.97 ± 3.94 to -12.44 ± 4.79%) in the IG compared to CG (-19.58 ± 4.03 to -19.67 ± 4.04%) (p=0.012). Twelve animals from IG died (40.00%,12 out of 30) compared to one from CG (6.66%, 1 out of 15). Eleven out of the 12 dead animals from IG, presented, before, clinical signs (CS+). Survival was significant reduced in the IG compared to CG over time (p=0.02) (Figure 1). Conclusion: Reduced survival during the acute phase of experimental model of Chagas disease is related to the significant reduction of left ventricular function. The mortality rate in the IG is higher in the group which presents CS+.

P939 Global longitudinal myocardial strain: an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract BACKGROUND Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) increases the likelihood of potentially serious cardiovascular complications. The scientific evidence on prognostic predictors is limited and cardiac monitoring of these patients is not systematized. Our aim was to analyze cardiovascular prognosis and identify echocardiographic factors predicting cardiovascular events in the context of HSCT. METHODS An observational, retrospective study was designed, including 243 patients (mean age 54 ± 16yo, 60%males, 13% hypertension, 5% diabetes) undergoing a HSCT (60% Allogeneic/40% Autologous) with previous echocardiography, from December 2016 to the present. Clinical data, echocardiographic findings, mortality and cardiovascular events (CVE) were collected and analyzed. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 18 [12] months, 22 patients (9%) suffered CVE (54% arrhythmias, 40% heart failure, and 9% ischemic heart disease). Patients with Allogeneic-HSCT (13% vs. 3%; p: 0.007), left ventricular dilatation (40% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.02) or hypertrophy (33% vs. 8%, p: 0.01), dilated left atrium (33% vs. 9%, p:0.03), or pericardial effusion (33% vs. 9%, p: 0.04) in the echocardiographic study performed prior to HSCT suffered significantly more CVE at follow-up. Patients with CVE had significantly higher global longitudinal strain (GLS) (-19 ± 3% vs. -21 ± 3%, p= 0.001). Patients were divided into quartiles based on GLS, those belonging to the fourth quartile (&amp;gt;-19.4%) suffered more frequently CVE (log Rank: 9.6; 18% vs. 6%, p = 0.002) with a significantly lower time to event (27 ± 1.8 vs. 32 ± 0.6 months) (Figure). In multivariate analysis (Cox regression), Allogeneic-HSCT (HR: 5.6; p = 0.02) and the fourth quartile of GLS (HR: 4.3; p = 0.004) were maintained as independent predictors of cardiovascular event. CONCLUSION GLS before HSCT is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events at follow-up. This parameter could allow the identification of high-risk patients who could benefit from intensive protocolized cardiac follow-up. Abstract P939 Figure. Survival analysis (Kaplan Meier)

Structural and functional changes of the myocardium and heart valves in patients of advanced and senile age with coronary pathology

This paper was aimed at studying the structural and functional changes in the myocardium and heart valves in patients of advanced and senile age with coronary pathology. 128 patients with coronary heart disease were examined; the average age was 82.4 ± 10.6 years (from 65 to 90 years old). According to the WHO classification, the patients were divided into two age groups: 1st – elderly people – from 65 to 74 years (32%), 2nd – senile people – from 75 to 90 years (68%). All subjects underwent anamnesis, physical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography with tissue dopplerography, assessment of global longitudinal strain using a 2D-speckle-tracking technique, coronaroangiography. Patients of elderly and senile age with coronary pathology have age-associated structural and functional myocardial changes, multivessel lesions in the coronary arteries, history of previous myocardial infarction, as well as concomitant pathology (arterial hypertension). The patients older than 75 years have a progression of coronary pathology, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, aortic valve calcification, combined aortic and mitral valve defects, also the number of people with left ventricular hypertrophy is increasing. The number of people with left ventricular hypertrophy is increasing. The study showed informative value of echocardiographic evaluation of global longitudinal myocardial strain to identify the subclinical systolic dysfunction of the myocardium in patients of elderly and senile age with coronary pathology.

Early Left and Right Ventricular Response to Aortic Valve Replacement.

The immediate effect of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis on perioperative myocardial function is unclear. Left ventricular (LV) function may be impaired by cardioplegia-induced myocardial arrest and ischemia-reperfusion injury, especially in patients with LV hypertrophy. Alternatively, LV function may improve when afterload is reduced after AVR. The right ventricle (RV), however, experiences cardioplegic arrest without benefiting from improved loading conditions. Which of these effects on myocardial function dominate in patients undergoing AVR for aortic stenosis has not been thoroughly explored. Our primary objective is thus to characterize the effect of intraoperative events on LV function during AVR using echocardiographic measures of myocardial deformation. Second, we evaluated RV function. In this supplementary analysis of 100 patients enrolled in a clinical trial (NCT01187329), 97 patients underwent AVR for aortic stenosis. Of these patients, 95 had a standardized intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic examination of systolic and diastolic function performed before surgical incision and repeated after chest closure. Echocardiographic images were analyzed off-line for global longitudinal myocardial strain and strain rate using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Myocardial deformation assessed at the beginning of surgery was compared with the end of surgery using paired t tests corrected for multiple comparisons. LV volumes and arterial blood pressure decreased, and heart rate increased at the end of surgery. Echocardiographic images were acceptable for analysis in 72 patients for LV strain, 67 for LV strain rate, and 54 for RV strain and strain rate. In 72 patients with LV strain images, 9 patients required epinephrine, 22 required norepinephrine, and 2 required both at the end of surgery. LV strain did not change at the end of surgery compared with the beginning of surgery (difference: 0.7 [97.6% confidence interval, -0.2 to 1.5]%; P = 0.07), whereas LV systolic strain rate improved (became more negative) (-0.3 [-0.4 to -0.2] s; P < 0.001). In contrast, RV systolic strain worsened (became less negative) at the end of surgery (difference: 4.6 [3.1 to 6.0]%; P < 0.001) although RV systolic strain rate was unchanged (0.0 [97.6% confidence interval, -0.1 to 0.1]; P = 0.83). LV function improved after replacement of a stenotic aortic valve demonstrated by improved longitudinal strain rate. In contrast, RV function, assessed by longitudinal strain, was reduced.

Two-dimensional global and segmental longitudinal strain: are the results from software in different high-end ultrasound systems comparable?

To compare the peak global longitudinal myocardial strain (PGLS) and peak segmental longitudinal myocardial strain (PSLS) values by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) obtained using two different echocardiography devices. STE is an emerging quantitative ultrasound technique that allows an accurate evaluation of global and segmental myocardial function. However, there is a lack of standardization of the acquired data among different manufacturers. Sixty-three subjects, mean age 56.2±10.4 years, underwent complete echocardiographic studies with two different devices (Philips IE33 and General Electric VIVID E9) performed by the same operator. Thirty-one of them had known cardiac disease, with estimated left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, while 32 were free of any cardiovascular disease (control subjects). All images were digitally stored and analyzed using off-line post processing with QLAB 9 and EchoPAC 11 Software packages. PSLS and PGLS were calculated. A strong relationship between QLAB and EchoPAC was found for PGLS (r=0.91, P<0.001), PSLS-4 chamber (CH; r=0.79, P<0.001), PSLS-2CH (r=0.73, P<0.001), and PSLS-3CH (r=0.78, P<0.001) QLAB. Bland–Altman analysis showed absolute differences vs average of −0.16, −0.37, −0.21, and −0.16 for PGLS, PSLS-4CH, PSLS-2CH, and PSLS-apical long-axis views respectively. Segmental analysis showed a good agreement between the apical segments, whereas poor correlations were found for the basal segments. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that cutoff values for PGLS of −17.5 and −17.75% with Philips or GE systems gave a sensitivity and specificity of 93.5 and 87.5%, and 90 and 87.5%, respectively, in the discrimination of the patients from the controls. Both Philips and GE echo stations were found to give comparable results for PGLS, with approximately the same cutoff values, suggesting that their PGLS results may be interchangeable.

Left Ventricular Function in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Lymphoma

Survivors of childhood lymphoma (CL) have markedly increased risk of developing heart failure. Echocardiographic studies after cardiotoxic treatment have primarily demonstrated left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. In the present study, we hypothesized that longer follow-up and a more comprehensive echocardiographic examination would reveal more cardiac abnormalities. We conducted a cross-sectional study with echocardiography 20.4 ± 8.6years after diagnosis in 125 survivors of CL, grouped according to treatment methods, and compared with matched controls. Treatment included mediastinal radiotherapy (median 40.0Gy) in 66 and anthracyclines (median dose 160mg/m(2)) in 92 survivors of CL. Abnormal LV function, left-sided valve dysfunction, or both occurred in 62 patients (50%). Diastolic dysfunction occurred in 29%. Compared with control subjects, mitral annular early diastolic velocities (e') were reduced in patients (septal e' 0.09 ± 0.03 vs 0.12 ± 0.03m/s, p <0.001), and the E/e' ratio was increased, particularly after mediastinal radiotherapy (10.6 ± 6.4 vs 5.6 ± 1.3, p <0.001). Survivors of CL had lower fractional shortening than control subjects (32 ± 6 vs 36 ± 7, p <0.001), but mean ejection fraction was equal and overt systolic dysfunction was infrequent. After mediastinal radiotherapy alone, global longitudinal myocardial strain was lower (p <0.05) compared with other treatment groups. Left-sided valvular dysfunction occurred in 55% of patients after mediastinal radiotherapy. In conclusion, survivors of CL had reduced LV diastolic function assessed by tissue Doppler imaging. This was more pronounced after mediastinal radiotherapy, which also frequently led to valvular disease. Systolic function was normal in most survivors of CL.

Disfunção sistólica ventricular esquerda detetada por speckle tracking em hipertensos com fração de ejeção preservada

Introduction The spectrum of hypertensive heart disease is wide, and can include left ventricular dysfunction. The development of echocardiographic parameters to improve patient stratification and to identify early adverse changes could be clinically useful.Aim To identify subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in hypertensive subjects with preserved ejection fraction (>55%), identified by global parameters of myocardial strain on speckle tracking imaging.Methods This was a comparative observational study of two groups of individuals: normotensive (n=20, age 59±7 years, 55% male) and hypertensive (n=229, age 62±12 years, 57% male). Left ventricular function was assessed by various conventional clinical and echocardiographic parameters and global longitudinal and circumferential myocardial strain. Cut-off values to detect subclinical left ventricular dysfunction were established and applied in the hypertensive group. The Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test and chi-square test were used for the comparative statistical analysis.Results Most hypertensive subjects (53.7%) had grade I hypertension; blood pressure was controlled in 64.9%, and 54.8% showed left ventricular structural changes. Comparison between the normotensive and hypertensive groups showed no significant differences in parameters of global longitudinal or circumferential systolic strain. Application of the cut-offs to the hypertensive group identified 35 individuals (15.3%) as having subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction as assessed by global longitudinal myocardial strain parameters.Conclusions In this group of hypertensive patients, global myocardial strain parameters identified a group of individuals with subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction despite preserved ejection fraction. The clinical relevance of these findings needs to be assessed in long-term follow-up studies.

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction detected by speckle tracking in hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction

IntroductionThe spectrum of hypertensive heart disease is wide, and can include left ventricular dysfunction. The development of echocardiographic parameters to improve patient stratification and to identify early adverse changes could be clinically useful. AimTo identify subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in hypertensive subjects with preserved ejection fraction (>55%), identified by global parameters of myocardial strain on speckle tracking imaging. MethodsThis was a comparative observational study of two groups of individuals: normotensive (n=20, age 59±7 years, 55% male) and hypertensive (n=229, age 62±12 years, 57% male). Left ventricular function was assessed by various conventional clinical and echocardiographic parameters and global longitudinal and circumferential myocardial strain. Cut-off values to detect subclinical left ventricular dysfunction were established and applied in the hypertensive group. The Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test and chi-square test were used for the comparative statistical analysis. ResultsMost hypertensive subjects (53.7%) had grade I hypertension; blood pressure was controlled in 64.9%, and 54.8% showed left ventricular structural changes. Comparison between the normotensive and hypertensive groups showed no significant differences in parameters of global longitudinal or circumferential systolic strain. Application of the cut-offs to the hypertensive group identified 35 individuals (15.3%) as having subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction as assessed by global longitudinal myocardial strain parameters. ConclusionsIn this group of hypertensive patients, global myocardial strain parameters identified a group of individuals with subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction despite preserved ejection fraction. The clinical relevance of these findings needs to be assessed in long-term follow-up studies.