Latent Systolic Dysfunction Research Articles

Left ventricular systolic performance in adults after arterial switch operation. Echocardiographic data from EPOCH-ASO: a multi-centric international registry

Abstract Background The arterial switch operation (ASO) is the current technique of choice for the repair of the transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA). Its main advantage is that the left ventricle (LV) sustains the systemic circulation, thus diminishing the risk of late systolic dysfunction as seen in the atrial switch technique. Purpose To study the systolic LV performance in a large cohort of adult patients after ASO and to explore clinical determinants of reduced left ventricular systolic function (LVSF). Methods EPOCH-ASO is an ongoing prospective, multicentre, international cohort study involving 11 reference centres from 5 different countries, that includes adult d-TGA patients after ASO. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of clinical and echocardiographic data from all patients enrolled in EPOCH-ASO. LVSF was considered reduced when ejection fraction (EF) by Simpson’s method was < 54% in women or <52% in men, or by visual assessment when EF could not be obtained. Results 513 patients have been included in EPOCH-ASO, with a median age of 25.3 years [IQR: 21 – 28 years] at the time of enrolment. At baseline, 41% had history of at least one reintervention (23.2% at the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), 5.1% at the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), 4.5% at the aortic arch, 3.3% pacemaker implantation). Echocardiographic data were obtained in 450 patients (88 % of the total cohort). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by biplane Simpson method was available in 316 patients (mean LVEF 58.3 ± 7.2%), while visual assessment of LVSF was performed in 134 patients. For the total cohort with echocardiographic data available, 62 (13.8%) had a reduced LVSF. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) analysis was available in 145 patients (28.2% of the total cohort), with a mean value of -17.4% ±2.7%. GLS was impaired (>-18%) in 53% of the patients. Furthermore, 48% of the 117 patients with normal LVEF had a reduced GLS. Older age at the time of the echocardiography, late repair (>12th day), a previous pulmonary banding or having a pacemaker implanted were factors associated with an impaired LVSF. In the multivariate analysis, age at the time of the echocardiography (OR 1.06 per year, CI 1.01-1.12; p<0.001) and late repair (OR 1.85, CI 1.11-3.06, p=0.03) remained significant. As for the speckle tracking analysis, a significantly lower GLS was found in patients after LVOT intervention (-15% vs -17.6%, p=0.005) and with a neo-aortic root above the median (37.5 mm) (GLS -17% vs -18%, p=0.03). In the multivariate analysis only LVOT intervention remained significant (p=0.016). Conclusions Left ventricular systolic dysfunction is not exceptional in patients after ASO and it may become a concern as this population ages. Speckle tracking analysis might identify earlier stages of ventricular dysfunction. Large comprehensive longitudinal studies are needed to better characterize the left ventricular systolic function in this patient population.

Heart damage in patients with cirrhosis of the liver

The review outlines the current understanding of the clinical syndrome of heart disease in patients with liver cirrhosis and the development of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. Patients with cirrhosis of the liver often notice chest pain, palpitations, complaints of arterial hypotension and rapid fatigue. Echocardiography shows that the left ventricular ejection fraction in cirrhosis is preserved at rest and decreases under stress. In some patients with viral liver cirrhosis, there is a decrease in global myocardial deformation (the presence of latent systolic dysfunction). More pronounced impairment of left ventricular diastolic function is recorded in patients with ascites and patients with ChildPugh class B and C. In patients with ascites, unfavorable left ventricular remodeling, left heart cavities enlargement, dilatation of the pulmonary artery and its branches are more common. There is an increase in pulmonary artery pressure, the development of portopulmonary hypertension and hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients with liver cirrhosis. Тhe development of these syndromes leads to a sharp decrease in the quality of life of patients with relatively preserved liver function and a worsening of the prognosis for orthotopic liver transplantation. Аpproximately half of patients with liver cirrhosis have electrophysiological disorders: prolongation of the QT interval, tachycardia, supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles. To date, there are no clinical guidelines for the management of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. If a patient with liver cirrhosis develops clinically significant heart failure, then general principles of management of such patients are necessary. It is necessary to limit the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and cardiac glycosides. The combined use of nonselective beta-blockers and nitrates reduce cardiac output and QT interval. The use of potassium canrenoate, lisinopril helps reverse the development of structural and functional changes in left ventricle. The positive effect of antiviral therapy on cardiac hemodynamics in patients with viral cirrhosis was noted. Liver transplantation is known to be an effective treatment for cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, but this treatment may worsen latent heart failure. Thus, in patients with liver cirrhosis, heart damage occurs with the development of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, while the mechanisms of the development of myocardial dysfunction are not fully understood. Further studies of the development of the syndrome are required for timely diagnosis and clinical intervention to improve the survival of patients.

Global Longitudinal Strain at Rest as an Independent Predictor of Mortality in Liver Transplant Candidates: A Retrospective Clinical Study.

Speckle tracking echocardiography enables the detection of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction at rest in many heart diseases and potentially in severe liver diseases. It could also possibly serve as a predictor for survival. In this study, 117 patients evaluated for liver transplantation in a single center between May 2010 and April 2016 with normal left ventricular ejection fraction were included according to clinical characteristics of their liver disease: (1) compensated (n = 29), (2) clinically significant portal hypertension (n = 49), and (3) decompensated (n = 39). Standard echocardiography and speckle tracking echocardiography were performed at rest and during dobutamine stress. Follow-up amounted to three years to evaluate survival and major cardiac events. Altogether 67% (78/117) of the patients were transplanted and 32% (31/96 patients) died during the three-year follow-up period. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) at rest was significantly increased (became more negative) with the severity of liver disease (p < 0.001), but reached comparable values in all groups during peak stress. Low (less negative) GLS values at rest (male: >−17/female: >−18%) could predict patient survival in a multivariate Cox regression analysis (p = 0.002). GLS proved valuable in identifying transplant candidates with latent systolic dysfunction.

Multi-modal and multiscale imaging approaches reveal novel cardiovascular pathophysiology in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACTEstablishing connections between changes in linear DNA sequences and complex downstream mesoscopic pathology remains a major challenge in biology. Herein, we report a novel, multi-modal and multiscale imaging approach for comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular physiology in Drosophila melanogaster. We employed high-speed angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal microscopy to reveal functional and structural abnormalities in the hdp2 mutant, pre-pupal heart tube and aorta relative to controls. hdp2 harbor a mutation in wupA, which encodes an ortholog of human troponin I (TNNI3). TNNI3 variants frequently engender cardiomyopathy. We demonstrate that the hdp2 aortic and cardiac muscle walls are disrupted and that shorter sarcomeres are associated with smaller, stiffer aortas, which consequently result in increased flow and pulse wave velocities. The mutant hearts also displayed diastolic and latent systolic dysfunction. We conclude that hdp2 pre-pupal hearts are exposed to increased afterload due to aortic hypoplasia. This may in turn contribute to diastolic and subtle systolic dysfunction via vascular-heart tube interaction, which describes the effect of the arterial loading system on cardiac function. Ultimately, the cardiovascular pathophysiology caused by a point mutation in a sarcomeric protein demonstrates that complex and dynamic micro- and mesoscopic phenotypes can be mechanistically explained in a gene sequence- and molecular-specific manner.

First-Phase Ejection Fraction Is a Powerful Predictor of Adverse Events in Asymptomatic Patients With Aortic Stenosis and Preserved Total Ejection Fraction

ObjectivesThis study investigated the prognostic value of first-phase ejection fraction (EF1) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS), a condition in which left ventricular dysfunction as measured by conventional indices is an indication for valve replacement. BackgroundEF1, the ejection fraction up to the time of maximal ventricular contraction may be more sensitive than existing markers in detecting early systolic dysfunction. MethodsThe predictive value of EF1 compared to that of conventional echocardiographic indices for outcomes was assessed in 218 asymptomatic patients with at least moderate AS, including 73 with moderate, 50 with severe, and 96 with “discordant” (aortic area <1.0 cm2 and gradient <40 mm Hg) AS, all with preserved EF, followed for at least 2 years. EF1 was measured retrospectively from archived echocardiographic images by wall tracking of the endocardium. The primary outcome was a combination of aortic valve intervention, hospitalization for heart failure, and death from any cause. ResultsEF1 was the most powerful predictor of events in the total population and all subgroups. A cutoff value of 25% (or EF1 of <25% compared to ≥25%) gave hazard ratios of 27.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.1 to 58.7; p < 0.001) unadjusted and 24.4 (95% CI: 11.3 to 52.7; p < 0.001) adjusted for other echocardiographic measurements including global longitudinal strain, for events at 2 years in all patients with asymptomatic AS. Corresponding hazard ratios for all-cause mortality in the total population were 17.5 (95% CI: 5.7 to 53.3) and 17.4 (95% CI: 5.5 to 55.2) unadjusted and adjusted, respectively. ConclusionsEF1 may be potentially valuable in the clinical management of patients with AS and other conditions in which there is progression from early to late systolic dysfunction.

SUBCLINICAL SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE IN PREECLAMPTIC WOMEN WITHOUT PROTEINURIA. THE POSSIBILITIES OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS

The article presents the main pathophysiological mechanisms associated with the development of complications of pregnancy against the background of arterial hypertension in patients without clinical manifestations of left ventricular dysfunction, the possibilities of speckle tracking of echocardiography in revealing latent systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in pregnant women on the background of preeclampsia not accompanied by proteinuria are shown.Goal. To identify early markers of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in pregnant women with preeclampsia without proteinuria according to speckle tracking echocardiography.Material and methods. 100 pregnant women with hypertension and a gestation period of 29–40 weeks are divided into 2 groups: 1 st group – 50 patients without an arterial hypertension in the anamnesis, 2 nd group – 50 patients with an arterial hypertension in the anamnesis (without the proteinuria during pregnancy). For all patients, echocardiography with evaluation of cardiomyocyte function by speckle-tracking was performed on ultrasonic scanners Aplio ™ 500 and Aplio ™ Artida from Toshiba.Results. Ejection fraction of the left ventricle in the groups was not significantly different, while the longitudinal, radial and circular deformation parameters differed between the groups, with the lowest values characterizing the global longitudinal deformation.Conclusions. In assessing the function of the left ventricle in pregnant women with preeclampsia without diurnal proteinuria, it is not enough to focus on traditional parameters, shifting the emphasis towards derivatives of force, speed and time. Study of myocardium with the help of speckle tracking echocardiography promotes the detection of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with arterial hypertension without daily proteinuria.

SUBCLINICAL SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE IN PREECLAMPTIC WOMEN WITHOUT PROTEINURIA. THE POSSIBILITIES OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS

The article presents the main pathophysiological mechanisms associated with the development of complications of pregnancy against the background of arterial hypertension in patients without clinical manifestations of left ventricular dysfunction, the possibilities of speckle tracking of echocardiography in revealing latent systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in pregnant women on the background of preeclampsia not accompanied by proteinuria are shown. Goal. To identify early markers of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in pregnant women with preeclampsia without proteinuria according to speckle tracking echocardiography. Material and methods. 100 pregnant women with hypertension and a gestation period of 29–40 weeks are divided into 2 groups: 1 st group – 50 patients without an arterial hypertension in the anamnesis, 2 nd group – 50 patients with an arterial hypertension in the anamnesis (without the proteinuria during pregnancy). For all patients, echocardiography with evaluation of cardiomyocyte function by speckle-tracking was performed on ultrasonic scanners Aplio ™ 500 and Aplio ™ Artida from Toshiba. Results. Ejection fraction of the left ventricle in the groups was not significantly different, while the longitudinal, radial and circular deformation parameters differed between the groups, with the lowest values characterizing the global longitudinal deformation. Conclusions. In assessing the function of the left ventricle in pregnant women with preeclampsia without diurnal proteinuria, it is not enough to focus on traditional parameters, shifting the emphasis towards derivatives of force, speed and time. Study of myocardium with the help of speckle tracking echocardiography promotes the detection of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with arterial hypertension without daily proteinuria.

Performance of Contemporary Risk Scores for Mitral Valve Surgery

the same or better in 69 (95%) of AR and 64 (88%) of MR. 3/9 cases with dilated LV at T1 had returned to normal at T2. There was no late systolic dysfunction or mitral stenosis among non-operative cases. 78% of cases had a known BMI > 30kg/m at final assessment. The obese subjects were more likely to have LVH, diastolic dysfunction or aortic root dilatation. Conclusion: For childrenwho escape early surgery and are compliant with BZP valve regurgitation improves in 85%. Late deterioration to severe AR or MR is rare without ARF recurrence. A concerning finding is the emergence of an obese ‘footprint’ on the young heart.

Diabetic Cardiomyopathy; Summary of 41 Years.

Patients with diabetes have an increased risk for development of cardiomyopathy, even in the absence of well known risk factors like coronary artery disease and hypertension. Diabetic cardiomyopathy was first recognized approximately four decades ago. To date, several pathophysiological mechanisms thought to be responsible for this new entity have also been recognized. In the presence of hyperglycemia, non-enzymatic glycosylation of several proteins, reactive oxygen species formation, and fibrosis lead to impairment of cardiac contractile functions. Impaired calcium handling, increased fatty acid oxidation, and increased neurohormonal activation also contribute to this process. Demonstration of left ventricular hypertrophy, early diastolic and late systolic dysfunction by sensitive techniques, help us to diagnose diabetic cardiomyopathy. Traditional treatment of heart failure is beneficial in diabetic cardiomyopathy, but specific strategies for prevention or treatment of cardiac dysfunction in diabetic patients has not been clarified yet. In this review we will discuss clinical and experimental studies focused on pathophysiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy, and summarize diagnostic and therapeutic approaches developed towards this entity.

Quantitative assessment of systolic right ventricular function using myocardial deformation in patients with a systemic right ventricle.

Late systolic dysfunction of the systemic right ventricle (RV) in patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is of major concern. Right ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) might be able to identify early dysfunction. Adults with TGA after Mustard operation (TGA-Mustard) or congenitally corrected-TGA (ccTGA) underwent echocardiography, electrocardiography, and NT-proBNP measurement. Using speckle-tracking echocardiography, we analysed longitudinal strain and strain rate, and compared findings in both patients groups, to healthy controls and with clinical parameters. We included 42 patients (mean age 37 ± 7 years, 69% male) with a systemic RV [32 TGA-Mustard (34 ± 4 years after corrective surgery) and 10 ccTGA], and 32 healthy controls (mean age 36 ± 11 years). Global longitudinal strain of the systemic RV was lower in patients than GLS of the systemic LV in controls (-14.2 ± 3.5 vs. -20.0 ± 3.0%, P < 0.001). Average LS of the RV lateral wall was lower in patients with TGA-Mustard (-15.5 ± 3.4%) than ccTGA (-18.3 ± 3.6%, P = 0.047). Right ventricular GLS tended to be lower in patients in NYHA class II than I, and correlated with NT-proBNP (r = 0.49, P = 0.001), RV fractional area change (r = -0.39, P = 0.019), RV apex-base-diameter (r = 0.37, P = 0.021), and QRS duration (r = 0.41, P = 0.014). Global longitudinal strain of the systemic RV in patients is lower than GLS of the systemic LV in healthy controls, especially in the apical segment, and tended to be lower in TGA-Mustard than ccTGA patients. Since RV GLS correlates with RV function, myocardial deformation is useful as a more quantitative tool to measure systemic RV function. Decreased GLS was associated with elevated NT-proBNP and tended to correlate with worsening NYHA class, which strengthens the potential prognostic value of GLS in patients with a systemic RV.

Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography for Assessment of Systolic Function in Dogs with Experimentally Induced Mitral Regurgitation

BackgroundSystolic dysfunction is associated with poor outcomes in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease. However, assessment of systolic variables by conventional echocardiographic methods is difficult in these dogs because of mitral regurgitation (MR).HypothesisWe hypothesized that assessment of systolic function by dobutamine stress may identify systolic dysfunction in dogs with MR, and that 2‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiography (2D‐STE) could quantitatively evaluate myocardial function.AnimalsAnesthetized dogs with experimentally induced MR.MethodsDogs were examined for systolic myocardial deformations using 2D‐STE during dobutamine infusion before and 3 and 6 months after MR induction. We evaluated peak systolic rotation and rotation rate in each basal and apical view; peak systolic torsion and torsion rate were also calculated.ResultsInvasive peak positive first derivatives of left ventricular pressure (dp/dt) were significantly decreased in dogs 6 months after induction of MR compared with pre‐MR results. After 3 and 6 months of MR, dogs had diminished peak systolic torsion values and torsion rates in response to dobutamine infusion compared with pre‐MR results (3 months, P < .001 and P = .006; 6 months, P = .003 and P = .021). These results were significantly correlated with overall invasive dp/dt (r = 0.644, P < .001; r = 0.696, P < .001).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceDecreased torsion during dobutamine infusion in dogs with MR may reflect latent systolic dysfunction. Dobutamine infusion, therefore, may be useful for the assessment of systolic function in dogs with MR.

Abstract 18911: Prognosis of Latent Systolic Dysfunction in Patients Referred for Stress Echocardiography With Normal LV Ejection Fraction

Background: Tissue Doppler imaging can assess latent systolic function. The prognostic impact of latent systolic dysfunction in patients with normal ejection fraction is limited. Methods: We measured the left ventricular septal S wave velocity (Sm) at rest in 908 patients, mean age 58 ±14 years, 40% males who were referred for stress echocardiography with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (&gt;55%). Results: There were 42 (5%) deaths during the mean follow-up of 3.1 ± 0.6 years. Only 44 (6%) had ischemia on stress echocardiogram. There were significant high correlations observed between age and Sm and E′ (r= -0.24; p&lt;0.001 and r= -0.53; p&lt;0.001, respectively) and very high correlations were observed between Sm and E′ (r =0.51; p&lt;0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, CAD risk factors, and ischemia, and interaction of age*Sm, higher age (HR=1.01; 95% CI: 1.004 - 1.01; p&lt;0.001) with normal S wave velocity, and higher S wave velocity (HR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.36 - 0.73; p&lt;0.001) independent of age were the predictors of mortality. Similarly, diastolic dysfunction was a predictor of mortality (HR= 0.56; 95% CI = 0.41 - 0.76; p&lt;0.001). [FIGURE] However, addition of Sm in the model after E′ or addition of E′ after Sm does not affect the model. On sub-group analyses, taking only patients with diastolic dysfunction same results were observed. Lower Sm and E′ septal both were predictors of worse outcomes but dependent on each other. Conclusion: Latent systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction are highly correlated and associated with worse outcomes in patients with normal ejection fraction. Further studies with large cohort and longer follow-up are needed to determine whether these basic indices can prognosticate this cohort.

Contribution of cardiopulmonary exercise testing to the identification of latent systolic dysfunction in chronic aortic regurgitation

Chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) is a valvulopathy of slow and insidious evolution, and patients may remain asymptomatic for a long period of time. Exercise-induced systolic dysfunction occurs during the natural history of chronic AR and is related to changes in both preload and afterload. We describe the case of a 58-year-old woman with a diagnosis of chronic AR who reported progressive dyspnea of six years’ duration. A cardiopulmonary exercise test to assess functional capacity showed flattening of both oxygen uptake and oxygen pulse curves, suggesting latent systolic dysfunction related to chronic AR, which was later confirmed by stress Doppler echocardiogram with dynamic physical exercise.

Contribution of cardiopulmonary exercise testing to the identification of latent systolic dysfunction in chronic aortic regurgitation

Chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) is a valvulopathy of slow and insidious evolution, and patients may remain asymptomatic for a long period of time. Exercise-induced systolic dysfunction occurs during the natural history of chronic AR and is related to changes in both preload and afterload. We describe the case of a 58-year-old woman with a diagnosis of chronic AR who reported progressive dyspnea of six years’ duration. A cardiopulmonary exercise test to assess functional capacity showed flattening of both oxygen uptake and oxygen pulse curves, suggesting latent systolic dysfunction related to chronic AR, which was later confirmed by stress Doppler echocardiogram with dynamic physical exercise.

Trace elements in diabetic cardiomyopathy: An electrophysiological overview

There is a growing body of evidence that Diabetes Mellitus leads to a specific cardiomyopathy apart from vascular disease and bring about high morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Recent clinical and experimental studies have extensively demonstrated that this cardiomyopathy causes impaired cardiac performance manifested by early diastolic and late systolic dysfunction. This impaired cardiac performance most probably have emerged upon the expression and activity of regulatory proteins such as Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, ryanodine receptor and phospholamban. Over years many therapeutic strategies have been recommended for treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Lately, inorganic elements have been suggested to have anti-diabetic effects due to their suggested ability to regulate glucose homeostasis, reduce oxidative stress or suppress phosphatases. Recent findings have shown that trace elements exert many biological effects including insulin-mimetic or antioxidant activity and in this manner they have been recommended as potential candidates for treatment of diabetes-induced cardiac complications, an effect based on their modes of action. Some of these trace elements are known to play an essential role as component of enzymes and thus modulate the organ function in physiological and pathological conditions. Besides, they can also manipulate redox state of the channels via antioxidant properties and thus contribute to the regulation of [Ca(2+)]i homeostasis and cardiac ion channels. On account of little information about some trace elements, we discussed the effect of vanadium, selenium, zinc and tungstate on diabetic heart complications.

The Clinical Value of Echocardiography and Acoustic Cardiography to Monitor Patients Undergoing Anthracycline Chemotherapy

Investigate the usefulness of echocardiography and acoustic cardiography to monitor patients exposed to anthracycline chemotherapy. Serial echocardiographies to monitor systolic function may not be neccessary in all patients undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy. In a prospective study, consecutive patients undergoing anthracycline-containing chemotherapy were evaluated with echocardiography and acoustic cardiography at baseline, after completion of chemotherapy, and after a median follow-up of 3.8 years. Systolic dysfunction was defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction≤50%. A total of 187 patients (83% female) with a mean age of 55±14 years underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer (73%), malignant lymphoma (23%), and sarcoma (4%). None of the patients had systolic dysfunction at baseline. Patients were treated with doxorubicin 276±74 mg/m2 or epirubicin 317±55 mg/m2. After chemotherapy, 170 (91%) had normal systolic function, 8 (4%) developed systolic dysfunction, and 9 (5%) had died. Of those 8 patients with systolic dysfunction, 4 (50%) improved to normal systolic function, 1 (13%) remained unchanged, and 3 (37%) died. Patients with normal systolic function after chemotherapy had a mortality rate of 3.5%, and 1.8% developed late systolic dysfunction. Acoustic cardiography-derived percent electromechanical activation time>12.4% had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 84% to identify patients with systolic dysfunction (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.87). Patients with systolic dysfunction early after anthracycline treatment had worse outcome. Acoustic cardiography was able to identify these patients with a high sensitivity and specificity. Based on the findings of this study, we propose a simple algorithm to monitor patients undergoing anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

How to Identify Latent Systolic Dysfunction and Post Operative Risk in Patients with Mitral Incompetence and Normal Ejection Fraction?

Purpose: To study the significance of impaired positive peak rate of left ventricular (LV) pressure development (MR + dp/dt) and global systolic strain (GLPSS) values in patients presented with significant mitral incompetence (MR) in coronary artery disease (CAD) and early dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with normal ejection fraction (EF). Methods: A description of LV contractile behavior requires measurement of the ability of the ventricle to develop force (pressure) and to shorten. Hence, performance of the ventricle as a pump assessed in the present study by measuring the pressure developed by the ventricle (Left ventricular +dP/dt is estimated from MR jet as the rate of pressure rise from 1 to 3 m/sec) and shortening assessed by GLPSS (this Doppler technology allowed measurement of LV systolic strain for the entire length of LV myocardium). GLPSS and MR + dp/dt were calculated in 30 consecutive patients (mean age was 55 ± 12 years) characterized by echocardiographic evidence of moderate or severe MR (in CAD and DCM patients) and normal EF (mean LV Ejection Fraction of 50.9% ± 5.9%) and compared with those obtained in 35 consecutive controls (age 54.7 ± 11.4 years) with normal echocardiographic study of the heart. Results: The mean values of MR +dp/dt and GLPSS averaged from the 3 apical views, differed significantly in DCM and CAD patients (characterized by significant MR with normal EF) compared with control group, (MR + dp/dt = 733 ± 170 mmhg/s and GLPSS –13% ± 1.3%) versus (1420 ± 210 mmhg/s and -19.5% ± 3.3%) for patients versus control, respectively, p < 0.001. A depressed values of MR + dp/dt were highly correlated with GLPSS values in patients with CAD and DCM, r = 0.78. The combined use of 2D Strain (<-13%) and MR dp/dt (<900 mmhg/s) in the presence of MR (grade II or more) had 89% sensitivity and 92% specificity for detection of patients at risk of post-operative major cardiac events after MR and coronary artery bypass surgery. Conclusions: Latent LV systolic dysfunction could be defined noninvasively by depressed peak MR + dp/dt and GLPSS in the echocardiography laboratories.

Predicting Late Myocardial Recovery and Outcomes in the Early Hours of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Traditional Measures Compared With Microvascular Obstruction, Salvaged Myocardium, and Necrosis Characteristics by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

The aim of this study was to determine whether a very early imaging strategy improves the prediction of late systolic dysfunction and poor outcomes in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared with traditional predictors. Earlier prediction of poor outcomes after STEMI is desirable, because it will allow tailored therapy at the earliest possible time, when benefits might be greatest. One hundred and three patients with acute STEMI were studied by contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance within 12 h of primary angioplasty and at 6 months and followed >2 years. The primary end point was left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, whereas poor outcomes were a key secondary end point. Traditional risk factors were only modest predictors of late LV dysfunction. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) volume maintained a stronger association to LV ejection fraction change than infarct transmurality, microvascular obstruction, or myocardial salvage during STEMI (p = 0.02). Multivariable logistic regression identified LGE volume during STEMI as the best predictor of late LV dysfunction (odds ratio: 1.36, p = 0.03). An LGE >or=23% of LV during STEMI accurately predicted late LV dysfunction (sensitivity 89%, specificity 74%). The LGE volume provided important incremental benefit for predicting late dysfunction (area under the curve = 0.92, p <or= 0.03 vs. traditional risk factors). Twenty-three patients developed poor outcomes (1 death, 2 myocardial infarctions, 5 malignant arrhythmias, 4 severe LV dysfunction <35%, 11 hospital stays for heart failure) over 2.6 +/- 0.9 years; LGE volume remained a strong independent predictor of poor outcomes, whereas LGE >or=23% carried a hazard ratio of 6.1 for adverse events (p < 0.0001). During the hyperacute phase of STEMI, LGE volume provides the strongest association and incremental predictive value for late systolic dysfunction and discerns poor late outcomes.

Mechanical dyssynchrony: another mechanism of left ventricular dysfunction in hypertension?

Mechanical dyssynchrony: another mechanism of left ventricular dysfunction in hypertension?

Abstract 3383: Assessment Of The Left Ventricular Long-axis And Short-axis Function Using Strain Rate Imaging In Chronic Severe Mitral Regurgitation: A Comparative Echocardiography-catheterization Study

Background Assessment of the left ventricular (LV) contractile function is critical for deciding optimal timing of surgery in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation (MR). We investigated the LV long-axis and short-axis function in MR. Methods We studied 30 patients (16 men, age: 51 ± 14 years) who had 3+ or 4+ MR with LV ejection fraction (EF) greater than 50%. Comprehensive 2D and Doppler echocardiography was performed. Peak systolic radial (SR R ), circumferential (SR C ), and longitudinal strain rate (SR L ) were measured using speckle tracking imaging. In all patients, peak dP/dt was measured using micromanometer-tipped catheter. Results Mean LVEF was 63.1% and regurgitation fraction was 61.8%. LV end-systolic volume was 78.3 ml. Peak dP/dt ranged from 1019 to 2049 mmHg/sec with the mean value of 1583 mmHg/sec. 16 patients (53.3%) showed latent systolic dysfunction defined by peak dP/dt less than 1300 mmHg/s. SR R and SR C correlated well with peak dP/dt (Fig. A , r=0.74, p&lt; 0.01, r=− 0.54, p&lt;0.01, respectively). However, SR L did not correlate with peak dP/dt (r=− 0.58, p=0.76). SR R &gt; 1.94 S −1 showed a sensitivity of 86 % and a specificity of 75 % for predicting latent LV systolic function (Fig. B , AUC=0.87, CI=0.732– 0.991). SR R also correlated with LV end-diastolic and end-systolic sphericity index (r=− 0.54, p&lt;0.01, r=− 0.66, p&lt; 0.01, respectively). Conclusion SR R and SR C , not SR L , correlated well with peak LV dP/dt. These results imply the importance of short-axis function in the presence of chronic severe MR, probably due to the geometrical change in response to chronic volume overload.