An approach to analysis of left ventricular diastolic function and loading conditions in the echocardiography laboratory

Association of Volumetric Epicardial Adipose Tissue Quantification and Cardiac Structure and Function

Background Epicardial adipose tissue ( EAT ) is in immediate apposition to the underlying myocardium and, therefore, has the potential to influence myocardial systolic and diastolic function or myocardial geometry, through paracrine or compressive mechanical effects. We aimed to review the association between volumetric EAT and markers of myocardial function and geometry. Methods and Results PubMed, Medline, and Embase were searched from inception to May 2018. Studies were included only if complete EAT volume or mass was reported and related to a measure of myocardial function and/or geometry. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were used to evaluate the weighted mean difference of EAT in patients with and without diastolic dysfunction. Heterogeneity of data reporting precluded meta-analysis for systolic and geometric associations. In the 22 studies included in the analysis, there was a significant correlation with increasing EAT and presence of diastolic dysfunction and mean e' (average mitral annular tissue Doppler velocity) and E/e' (early inflow / annular velocity ratio) but not E/A (ratio of peak early (E) and late (A) transmitral inflow velocities), independent of adiposity measures. There was a greater EAT in patients with diastolic dysfunction (weighted mean difference, 24.43 mL; 95% confidence interval, 18.5-30.4 mL; P<0.001), and meta-regression confirmed the association of increasing EAT with diastolic dysfunction ( P=0.001). Reported associations of increasing EAT with increasing left ventricular mass and the inverse correlation of EAT with left ventricular ejection fraction were inconsistent, and not independent from other adiposity measures. Conclusions EAT is associated with diastolic function, independent of other influential variables. EAT is an effect modifier for chamber size but not systolic function.

Predictive value of left atrial appendage lobes on left atrial thrombus or spontaneous echo contrast in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Background

Left atrial appendage morphology has been proved to be an important predictor of left atrial thrombus (LAT) and left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) and stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, the relation between left atrial appendage (LAA) lobes and LAT or LASEC is still unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the number of left atrial appendage lobes and LAT/LASEC in patients with NVAF.

Methods

This monocentric cross-sectional study enrolled 472 consecutive patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, who had transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) prior to cardioversion or left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) from July 2009 to August 2015 in department of cardiology of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital. Patients who had significant mitral or aortic valve disease, previous cardiac valvular surgery and other complicated cardiac diseases were excluded. Individuals were divided into two groups:the LAT/LASEC group (16.95%), which comprised patients with LAT or LASEC, as confirmed by TEE; and a negative control group (83.05%).Baseline overall group characterization with demographic, clinical, laboratory data and echocardiographic parameters, alongside with information on medication was obtained for all patients. Subgroup analysis with line chart was applied for exploring the association between LAA lobes and LAT/LAESC. Receptor-operating curves (ROC) were used to test the value of LA anteroposterior diameter detected by different echocardiography methods predicting LAT or LASEC. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate independent predictors of LAT/LASEC.

Results

Among 472 patients, 23 (4.87%) had LA/LAA thrombus and 57 (12.1%) had LA spontaneous echo contrast. Compared to the negative group, patients in LAT/LASEC group had higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (3.79 ± 1.75 vs 2.65 ± 1.76, p < 0.001), larger LAD (measured by TTE, 48.1 ± 7.7 vs 44.6 ± 6.5, P < 0.001; measured by TEE, 52.2 ± 6.2 vs 46.7 ± 7.1, P < 0.001), lower left upper pulmonary venous flow velocity (LUPVFV) (0.54 ± 0.17 m/s vs 0.67 ± 0.26 m/s, CI 95% 0.05–0.22, P = 0.003), more left atrial appendage lobes (1.67 ± 0.77 vs 1.25 ± 0.50, p < 0.001). There was a good discriminative capacity for LAD detected by TTE (area under the curve (AUC), 0.67, CI 95% 0.61–0.73, p < 0.001) and LAD detected by TEE (AUC, 0.73, CI 95% 0.67–0.79, p < 0.001). The subgroup analysis based on gender and different LAA lobes yielded similar results (male group: p < 0.001;female group: p = 0.004) that the number of LAA lobes were significantly associated with LA thrombus or SEC. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, both the number of LAA lobes (odds ratio: 2.37; CI 95% 1.37–4.09; p = 0.002) and the persistent AF (odds ratio: 3.57; CI 95% 1.68–7.57; p = 0.001) provided independent and incremental predictive value beyond CHA₂DS₂-VASc score.

Conclusion

The number of LAA lobes is an independent risk factor and has a moderate predictive value for LAT/LASEC among NVAF patients in China.

Galectin-3 as a new biomarker of diastolic dysfunction in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Galectin-3 (gal-3) is an emerging prognostic biomarker in heart failure (HF). Clinical and experimental studies suggest that gal-3 is an important mediator of HF. Here we aimed to examine the relationship between gal-3 and diastolic dysfunction in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD).

METHODS

We examined the relationship between plasma gal-3 levels and left ventricular diastolic function. Plasma gal-3 was measured in 87 subjects with chronic HD and in 45 healthy controls using biochemical evaluations. Conventional echocardiography and pulsed tissue Doppler assessment were performed in all patients. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was defined as E' < 8 cm/s. The E/E' ratio was used as the main determinant of LVDD grade.

RESULTS

The mean gal-3 concentrations were: 16.05 ng/ml (13.89-19.75) in healthy controls; 14.54 ng/ml (10.85-17.65) in HD patients with normal diastolic function; and 23.30 ng/ml (20.12-26.87) in HD patients with LVDD (p  < 0.01). Plasma gal-3 levels correlated with E/E' (r = 0.933, p  < 0.01), left atrial volume index (r = 0.713, p  < 0.01), and E' (r = -0.685, p  < 0.01). ROC analysis showed that the best gal-3 cut-off point for the diagnosis of LVDD was 20.12 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 67.6 % and specificity of 84.6 % (AUC = 0.803).

CONCLUSION

We suggest that gal-3 may be a promising biomarker for the detection of LVDD in HD patients.

Evaluation of the relationship between epicardial fat volume and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between epicardial fat tissue (EFT) volume and left ventricular diastolic function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 63 patients (29 male, 34 female, mean age 57.8 ± 10.9 years) were enrolled in the study. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and 2D transthoracic echocardiography were performed in 29 patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and 34 patients with normal diastolic function. EFT volume and coronary calcium score were measured by MDCT.

RESULTS

Mean EFT volume was 137.2 ± 56.2 cm(3) for the whole study group. Mean EFT was 114.1 ± 46.6 cm(3) in patients with normal left ventricular diastolic function and 164.4 ± 54.9 cm(3) in those with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (p = 0.0002). Diastolic dysfunction had no significant correlation with diabetes, hypertension, and coronary calcium scoring (p > 0.05). Also in our patient group EFT volume had no significant correlation with coronary calcium score (r = 0.148, p = 0.248).

CONCLUSION

Patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction had significantly increased EFT volume.

Equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography: Its usefulness in current practice and potential future applications

The routine and potential future applications of equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography/multigated acquisition (MUGA) in clinical decision making are explored in this review. The non-invasive nature of the test, less operator dependence, lower radiation dose and ease of performing, even in ill patients, are important considerations in clinical cardiology practice. Two important routine uses of this modality in day-to-day clinical practice include the following: serial assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients receiving cardiotoxic chemotherapy, and determination of accurate LVEF in patients with intractable heart failure. Other potential utilities of MUGA that could be translated into clinical practice include determination of regional LVEF, obtaining information about both right and left ventricle in suitable patients as a part of first pass angiocardiography, identification of diastolic dysfunction in patients with heart failure with preserved LVEF, and demonstration of dyssynchrony prior to cardiac resynchronisation, specifically by MUGA single photon emission tomography.The last two indications are particularly important and evolving at this point.