Correlation of Global Strain Rate and Left Ventricular Filling Pressure in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A 2-D Speckle-Tracking Study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of 2-D speckle-tracking imaging in the prediction of left ventricular filling pressure in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Eighty-four patients with CAD and 30 healthy controls were recruited prospectively. The longitudinal strain rate (SR) curves were determined in three apical views of the left ventricle long axis. Circumferential and radial SR curves were determined in three short-axis views. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was invasively obtained by left heart catheterization. Compared with the 30 controls, the patients with CAD had significantly lower global SR during early diastole (SRe) and higher E/SRe in three directions of myocardial deformation. CAD patients with elevated LVEDP had significantly lower SRe and higher E/SRe of three deformations. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that LVEDP correlated positively with E/E' ratio, radial SRe and longitudinal and circumferential E/SRe. LVEDP correlated negatively with longitudinal and circumferential SRe and radial E/SRe. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that these SR indexes predicted elevated LVEDP (areas under the curve: longitudinal E/SRe = 0.74, circumferential E/SRe = 0.74, circumferential SRe = 0.70, longitudinal SRe = 0.69, radial E/SRe = 0.68, radial SRe = 0.65), but neither was superior to the tissue Doppler imaging index E/E' (area under the curve = 0.84). The present study indicates that 2-D speckle-tracking imaging is a practical method for evaluating LV filling pressure, but it might not provide additional advantages compared with E/E' in CAD patients.

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction with Early Systolic Dysfunction Using Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Canine Heart Failure Model

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the role of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) for predicting left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in pacing-induced canine heart failure.

METHODS

Pacing systems were implanted in 8 adult mongrel dogs, and continuous rapid right ventricular pacing (RVP, 240 beats/min) was maintained for 2 weeks. The obtained measurements from 2DSTE included global strain rate during early diastole (SRe) and during late diastole (SRa) in the longitudinal (L-SRe, L-SRa), circumferential (C-SRe, C-SRa), and radial directions (R-SRe, R-SRa). Changes in heart morphology were observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy at 2 weeks.

RESULTS

The onset of LV diastolic dysfunction with early systolic dysfunction occurred 3 days after RVP initiation. Most of the strain rate imaging indices were altered at 1 or 3 days after RVP onset and continued to worsen until heart failure developed. Light and transmission electron microscopy showed myocardial vacuolar degeneration and mitochondrial swelling in the left ventricular at 2 weeks after RVP onset. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that parameters of conventional echocardiography and 2DSTE showed moderate correlation with LV pressure parameters, including E/Esep' (r = 0.58, P < 0.01), L-SRe (r = -0.58, P < 0.01), E/L-SRe (r = 0.65, P < 0.01), and R-SRe (r = 0.53, P < 0.01). ROC curves analysis showed that these indices of conventional echocardiography and strain rate imaging could effectively predict LV diastolic dysfunction (area under the curve: E/Esep' 0.78; L-SRe 0.84; E/L-SRe 0.80; R-SRe 0.80).

CONCLUSION

2DSTE was a sensitive and accurate technique that could be used for predicting LV diastolic dysfunction in canine heart failure model.

Prediction of Left Ventricular Filling Pressure by 3-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of 3-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography for estimating left ventricular filling pressure in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

METHODS

Altogether, 84 patients with CAD and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy control participants in sinus rhythm were recruited prospectively. All participants underwent conventional and 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Global strain values were automatically calculated by 3D speckle-tracking analysis. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was determined invasively by left heart catheterization. Echocardiography and cardiac catheterization were performed within 24 hours.

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, patients with CAD showed lower global longitudinal strain, global circumferential strain, global area strain, and global radial strain. Patients with CAD who had an elevated LVEDP had much lower levels of all 4 3D-speckle-tracking echocardiographic variables. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the LVEDP correlated positively with the early transmitral flow velocity/early diastolic myocardial velocity (E/E') ratio, global longitudinal strain, global circumferential strain, and global area strain. It correlated negatively with global radial strain. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that these 3D speckle-tracking echocardiographic indices could effectively predict elevated left ventricular filling pressure (LVEDP >15 mm Hg) in patients with CAD (areas under the curve: global longitudinal strain, 0.78; global radial strain, 0.77; global circumferential strain, 0.75; and global area strain, 0.74). These parameters, however, showed no advantages over the commonly used E/E' ratio (area under the curve, 0.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography was a practical technique for predicting elevated left ventricular filling pressure, but it might not be superior to the commonly used E/E' ratio in patients with CAD who have a normal left ventricular ejection fraction.