Myocardial radial strain in early diastole is useful for assessing left ventricular early diastolic function: comparison with invasive parameters.

BACKGROUND: Peak myocardial systolic strain determined using myocardial strain imaging is a useful index of left ventricular (LV) myocardial systolic function. We investigated the relationship between peak myocardial radial strain during early diastole and LV early diastolic function.
METHODS: A total of 85 patients without localized LV wall-motion abnormality underwent myocardial strain imaging and diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Peak myocardial radial strain during early diastole was obtained at the LV posterior-sided wall in the short-axis image. Invasive parameters of LV function were determined during cardiac catheterization.
RESULTS: Peak myocardial radial strain during early diastole significantly correlated with both the time constant tau (r = 0.80, P < .0001) and the peak negative dP/dt (r = -0.64, P < .0001). Although it correlated with the LV ejection fraction, LV end-diastolic pressure, LV end-systolic volume index, and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, the time constant tau was the prime determinant of peak myocardial radial strain during early diastole.
CONCLUSION: Peak myocardial radial strain during early diastole could be used to evaluate LV early diastolic function. Myocardial strain imaging is a promising noninvasive tool for assessing LV function in systole and early diastole.