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Evaluation of longitudinal and radial left ventricular function by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in a large cohort of normal probands

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Abstract

Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a novel tool to analyze left ventricular (LV) deformation in standard grey-scale images. The aim of our study was to characterize global and regional LV function by STE in a large cohort of healthy adult probands across a wide range of age. 144 healthy individuals (71 men, 73 women; mean age 42 ± 14 years, range: 17–80 years) who had undergone a standard echocardiographic examination were retrospectively investigated by STE. Longitudinal strain (LS) was measured in three apical views, and radial strain (RS) in a short-axis view at papillary muscle level. Averaged global LS was −20.6 ± 2.6%, and averaged RS 48.2 ± 13.8%. On a regional basis, LS showed an increase from base to apex (basal vs. mid vs. apical segments: −18.5 ± 2.7% vs. −19.9 ± 2.6% vs. −22.9 ± 4.5%; P < 0.001). RS increased with age (P < 0.05), while LS decreased in basal, and slightly increased in the apical segments. LS and RS decreased with body surface area and LV size (P < 0.05). In the longitudinal dimension about 38% of the segments showed some degree of systolic pre-stretching, with a higher likelihood in basal segments (P = 0.02 vs. mid and apical segments). In the radial dimension pre-stretching was even more frequent (60%). STE offers a simple and rapid method to measure regional myocardial deformation. Our results, based on a large cohort of normal probands covering a wide range of ages, may serve as reference for comparison with different disease entities.

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Abbreviations

STE or 2DS:

Speckle-tracking echocardiography

E/A-ratio:

Ratio of early (E) and atrial (A) LV filling phase velocity

IVSD:

Interventricular septum thickness in diastole

LA:

Left atrium

Longitudinal:

From base to apex (measured in apical 4-, 3- and 2-chamber views)

LV:

Left ventricle

LVWT:

Left ventricular wall thickness (sum of IVSD + posterior LV-wall thickness)

Pre-stretching:

Systolic lengthening prior to shortening in longitudinal direction respectively, systolic shortening prior to lengthening in radial direction

Radial:

Perpendicular to epicardium and longitudinal axis (measured in short-axis view at papillary muscle level)

RWT:

Relative wall thickness (LVWT divided by LVEDD)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia, Ruhr-University Bochum, Georgstraße 11, 32545, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany

    Norbert Reckefuss, Dieter Horstkotte & Lothar Faber

  2. Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Marien Hospital Herne, Ruhr-University Bochum, Herne, Germany

    Thomas Butz

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  1. Norbert Reckefuss
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  2. Thomas Butz
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  4. Lothar Faber
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Correspondence to Lothar Faber.

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Reckefuss, N., Butz, T., Horstkotte, D. et al. Evaluation of longitudinal and radial left ventricular function by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in a large cohort of normal probands. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 27, 515–526 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-010-9716-y

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