OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test myocardial deformation imaging using speckle-tracking echocardiography for predicting outcomes in chronic aortic regurgitation. BACKGROUND: In chronic aortic regurgitation, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction must be detected early to allow timely surgery. Speckle-tracking echocardiography has been proposed for this purpose, but the clinical value of this method in aortic regurgitation has not been established. METHODS: A longitudinal study was performed in 64 patients with moderate to severe aortic regurgitation. Thirty-five patients were managed conservatively with frequent clinical visits and sequential echocardiography and followed for an average of 19 ± 8 months, while 29 patients underwent surgery for the valve lesion and were followed for 6 months post-operatively. Baseline LV function by speckle-tracking and conventional echocardiography was compared with impaired outcome after surgery (defined as persisting symptoms or persisting LV dilation [LV end-diastolic volume index ≥ 87 ml/m(2)] or dysfunction [LV ejection fraction <50%]) and with disease progression during conservative management (defined as development of symptoms, increase in LV volume >15%, or decrease in LV ejection fraction >10%). RESULTS: Reduced myocardial systolic strain, systolic strain rate, and early diastolic strain rate by speckle-tracking echocardiography was associated with disease progression during conservative management (-16.3% vs. -19.0%, p = 0.02; -1.04 vs. -1.19 s(-1), p = 0.02; and 1.20 vs. 1.60 s(-1), p = 0.002, respectively) and with impaired outcome after surgery (-11.5% vs. -15.6%, p = 0.01; -0.88 vs. -1.01 s(-1), p = 0.04; and 0.98 vs. 1.33 s(-1), p = 0.01, respectively). Conventional parameters of LV function and size (LV ejection fraction and LV end-diastolic volume index) were associated with outcome after surgery (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively) but not with outcome during conservative management (p = 0.57 and p = 0.39, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Speckle-tracking echocardiography is useful for the early detection of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction in chronic aortic regurgitation.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test myocardial deformation imaging using speckle-tracking echocardiography for predicting outcomes in chronic aortic regurgitation. BACKGROUND: In chronic aortic regurgitation, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction must be detected early to allow timely surgery. Speckle-tracking echocardiography has been proposed for this purpose, but the clinical value of this method in aortic regurgitation has not been established. METHODS: A longitudinal study was performed in 64 patients with moderate to severe aortic regurgitation. Thirty-five patients were managed conservatively with frequent clinical visits and sequential echocardiography and followed for an average of 19 ± 8 months, while 29 patients underwent surgery for the valve lesion and were followed for 6 months post-operatively. Baseline LV function by speckle-tracking and conventional echocardiography was compared with impaired outcome after surgery (defined as persisting symptoms or persisting LV dilation [LV end-diastolic volume index ≥ 87 ml/m(2)] or dysfunction [LV ejection fraction <50%]) and with disease progression during conservative management (defined as development of symptoms, increase in LV volume >15%, or decrease in LV ejection fraction >10%). RESULTS: Reduced myocardial systolic strain, systolic strain rate, and early diastolic strain rate by speckle-tracking echocardiography was associated with disease progression during conservative management (-16.3% vs. -19.0%, p = 0.02; -1.04 vs. -1.19 s(-1), p = 0.02; and 1.20 vs. 1.60 s(-1), p = 0.002, respectively) and with impaired outcome after surgery (-11.5% vs. -15.6%, p = 0.01; -0.88 vs. -1.01 s(-1), p = 0.04; and 0.98 vs. 1.33 s(-1), p = 0.01, respectively). Conventional parameters of LV function and size (LV ejection fraction and LV end-diastolic volume index) were associated with outcome after surgery (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively) but not with outcome during conservative management (p = 0.57 and p = 0.39, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Speckle-tracking echocardiography is useful for the early detection of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction in chronic aortic regurgitation.
Authors: Roxana Enache; Bogdan A Popescu; Rita Piazza; Denisa Muraru; Andreea Călin; Carmen C Beladan; Monica Roşca; Gian Luigi Nicolosi; Carmen Ginghină Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2015-05-21 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Niels Thue Olsen; Veronica L Dimaano; Thomas Fritz-Hansen; Peter Sogaard; Khalid Chakir; Kristian Eskesen; Charles Steenbergen; David A Kass; Theodore P Abraham Journal: J Cardiovasc Transl Res Date: 2013-07-26 Impact factor: 4.132