Identification of significant coronary artery disease in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome by myocardial strain analyses using three dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography

Utility of Magnetocardiography and Stress Speckle Tracking in Detection of Coronary Artery Disease

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. While exercise testing is recommended for diagnosing stable angina pectoris, its limited sensitivity and specificity have been questioned. Myocardial strain is a promising predictor of significant CAD. Aim: To evaluate the utility of myocardial strain obtained by 2D speckle tracking at rest and under stress combined with stress magnetocardiography for detecting CAD in patients with stable or low-risk unstable angina pectoris. Methods: A total of 108 patients meeting the inclusion criteria underwent coronary angiography within 48 h of admission. Myocardial strain was assessed using 2D speckle tracking at rest and during dobutamine stress alongside stress magnetocardiography. Results: Global longitudinal strain at stress showed a moderate correlation with significant CAD (r = 0.41, p <0.0001) and with coronary occlusion severity (r = 0.62, p <0.0001). Strain at stress had a sensitivity of 74.1% and specificity of 76.7% for detecting CAD at a cut-off value of -19.1. The ST fluctuation rate from magnetocardiography demonstrated the highest sensitivity for CAD detection. Conclusions: Longitudinal strain parameters and stress magnetocardiography are effective non-invasive methods for predicting CAD in patients with stable angina, potentially reducing the need for invasive assessments.

Assessment of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis with preserved left ventricular systolic function by three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography

OBJECTIVES

Left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling can occur as a result of aortic valve stenosis (AS). Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) can detect early left ventricular myocardial dysfunction even before ejection fraction declines. The purpose of this study was to look at the relationship between various myocardial strain parameters measured by 3D-STE in asymptomatic severe AS patients from Bangladesh.

METHODS

This study included 46 patients with asymptomatic severe AS but preserved LV systolic function (mean age 50.11 ± 12.66 years, LVEF 63.78 ± 3.95%, AS group) and 33 healthy subjects with no cardiovascular disease (mean age 48.21 ± 4.53 years, LVEF 65.15 ± 3.13%, control group). 3D-STE was used to measure left ventricular global myocardial strain parameters such as peak systolic longitudinal strain (PSLS), circumferential strain, radial strain, and area strain.

RESULTS

The AS group had significantly thicker interventricular septum and posterior ventricular wall than the control group (1.49 ± .19 cm vs. .81 ± .09 cm, p < .001; 1.73 ± 1.71 cm vs. .81 ± .10 cm, p = .003, respectively.) In the AS group, the Indexed Aortic Valve Area (AVA) was significantly lower than in the control group. (.29 ± .10 vs. 2.03 ± .18, p < .001, respectively). In terms of LVEF (p = .102), left ventricular end diastolic volume (p = .075), or left ventricular end systolic volume (p = .092), no significant inter-group difference was found. However, global PSLS (-10.75 ± 2.27 vs. -16.42 ± 2.76, p < .001), circumferential strain (-14.26 ± 3.40 vs. -16.64 ± 2.56, p = .001), area strain (-22.70 ± 4.19 vs. -26.45 ± 9.90, p = .024) and radial strain (32.20 ± 8.77 vs. 41.00 ± 7.52, p < .001) in the AS group were significantly lower than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed reductions in left ventricular global myocardial strains, particularly PSLS in patients suffering from asymptomatic severe AS in Bangladesh; this is consistent with other studies. Reduced area strain, detectable with 3D-STE, is also consistent with that pattern.

Combining Stress Speckle Tracking with High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease

Introduction: CAD (coronary artery disease) is a leading cause of death and disability in developed nations. Exercise testing is recommended as a first-line diagnostic test for patients with stable angina pectoris. In addition to myocardial strain, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) can predict the presence of significant coronary artery disease. Aim of work: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the utility of 2D-speckle tracking at rest and under stress along with hs-CRP for detection of CAD in patients who were referred to the chest pain unit with stable or low risk unstable angina pectoris. Methods: A total of 108 individuals met the inclusion criteria and gave their written consent to participate in this study. Coronary angiography was performed within 48 h after admission to the chest pain unit. Myocardial strain was recorded at rest and during dobutamine administration. Results: Global longitudinal strain at stress appeared to be moderately correlated with the presence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD); r = 0.41, p < 0.0001. A moderate correlation was also found between global longitudinal strain at stress and the severity of coronary occlusion; r = 0.62, p < 0.0001. With a cut-off value of −19.1, global longitudinal strain under stress had a sensitivity of 74.1% and a specificity of 76.7% for detecting significant CAD. Hs-CRP was significantly higher in patients with manifested CAD. Conclusion: Evaluation of longitudinal strain parameters at rest and under stress may predict coronary artery disease in patients with stable angina pectoris. A measurable Hs-CRP is a potential marker of coronary stenosis. Strain data could assist in diagnosing CAD severity.

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography: Early Predictor of Diagnosis and Prognosis in Coronary Artery Disease

Echocardiography represents a first level technique for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD) which supports clinicians in the diagnostic and prognostic workup of these syndromes. However, visual estimation of wall motion abnormalities sometimes fails in detecting less clear or transient myocardial ischemia and in providing accurate differential diagnosis. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a widely available noninvasive tool that could easily and quickly provide additive information over basic echocardiography, since it is able to identify subtle myocardial damage and to localize ischemic territories in accordance to the coronary lesions, obtaining a clear visualization with a "polar map" useful for differential diagnosis and management. Therefore, it has increasingly been applied in acute and chronic coronary syndromes using rest and stress echocardiography, showing good results in terms of prediction of CAD, clinical outcome, left ventricular remodeling, presence, and quantification of new/residual ischemia. The aim of this review is to illustrate the current available evidence on STE usefulness for the assessment and follow-up of CAD, discussing the main findings on bidimensional and tridimensional strain parameters and their potential application in clinical practice.