Fariba Bayat1, Asieh Fahimi1, Sasan Tavana2, Mohammadreza Tabary3, Isa Khaheshi1. 1. Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Clinical Research and Development Center, Shahid Modarres Hospital, Tehran, Iran. 3. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cardiac involvement by sarcoidosis may affect any part of the heart such as the pericardium, atriums, ventricles, and papillary muscles. In this regard, the use of two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain has been reported to be valuable in detecting heart sarcoidosis and its distinction from cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate subclinical cardiac involvement using 2D speckle tracking and its associated factors in patients with normal systolic function by 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). METHODS: In this study, 55 patients with extra-cardiac sarcoidosis and 21 normal people were evaluated by 2D speckle tracking. The mean longitudinal global strain for the left ventricle was calculated as an average of 16 segments per patient. RESULTS: The comparison of the mean 2D speckle-tracking indices including GCS (global circumferential strain) SAXA, GCSSAXM, Average GCS, AP2LS, AP3LS, AP4LS, and also Average GLS (global longitudinal strain) showed a significant difference between the two groups. Also, the evaluation of each of the above indices with a specific cutoff point as well as a high sensitivity and acceptable specificity predicted the presence of sarcoidosis. The occurrence of changes in the above indices was independent of ventricular function by 2D echocardiography in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The marked changes in the 2D speckle-tracking parameters in patients with extra-cardiac sarcoidosis can be of great value in the prediction of cardiac involvement. The occurrence of the abovementioned cardiac changes can be completely independent of the involvement of left ventricular function and is therefore predictable in patients with normal ventricular function.
BACKGROUND:Cardiac involvement by sarcoidosis may affect any part of the heart such as the pericardium, atriums, ventricles, and papillary muscles. In this regard, the use of two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain has been reported to be valuable in detecting heart sarcoidosis and its distinction from cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate subclinical cardiac involvement using 2D speckle tracking and its associated factors in patients with normal systolic function by 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). METHODS: In this study, 55 patients with extra-cardiac sarcoidosis and 21 normal people were evaluated by 2D speckle tracking. The mean longitudinal global strain for the left ventricle was calculated as an average of 16 segments per patient. RESULTS: The comparison of the mean 2D speckle-tracking indices including GCS (global circumferential strain) SAXA, GCSSAXM, Average GCS, AP2LS, AP3LS, AP4LS, and also Average GLS (global longitudinal strain) showed a significant difference between the two groups. Also, the evaluation of each of the above indices with a specific cutoff point as well as a high sensitivity and acceptable specificity predicted the presence of sarcoidosis. The occurrence of changes in the above indices was independent of ventricular function by 2D echocardiography in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The marked changes in the 2D speckle-tracking parameters in patients with extra-cardiac sarcoidosis can be of great value in the prediction of cardiac involvement. The occurrence of the abovementioned cardiac changes can be completely independent of the involvement of left ventricular function and is therefore predictable in patients with normal ventricular function.