Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2009
Chronic mitral regurgitation: a pilot study to assess preoperative left ventricular contractile function using speckle-tracking echocardiography.
The development of postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is a frequent complication in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and implies a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative regional LV contractile function assessment using two-dimensional echocardiography-based speckle-tracking analysis in patients with chronic severe MR. ⋯ IVS longitudinal speckle tracking-derived strain rate allows the accurate detection of early abnormalities in LV contractile function. It is a powerful predictor of early postoperative LVEF decreases in patients with chronic severe MR. Furthermore, speckle-tracking technology is more accurate than other methods. This new tool might assist clinicians in the optimal timing of surgery in patients with chronic severe MR.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2009
Correlation between left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and peak left atrial wall strain during left ventricular systole.
Left atrial (LA) reservoir function is determined by integration of LA relaxation and left ventricular (LV) systolic function, and LV diastolic dysfunction increases LA volume at end systole. This study investigates the effect of LV end-diastolic pressure on LA wall tension during LV systole. ⋯ Elevated LV end-diastolic pressure is associated with a decrease of peak LA wall strain in the longitudinal direction during LV systole. In patients with peak LA wall strain during LV systole of less than 30%, the majority had elevated LV end-diastolic pressure, while most patients with peak LA wall strain during LV systole 45% or higher had normal LV end-diastolic pressures. In patients whose LV ejection fraction is 50% or more, when peak LA wall strain during LV systole is between 30% and 44%, it is not possible to predict LV end-diastolic pressure from peak LA wall strain measures.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2009
Myocardial function in older male amateur marathon runners: assessment by tissue Doppler echocardiography, speckle tracking, and cardiac biomarkers.
Participation of older men in endurance races continues to increase. Recent studies on marathon runners raised concerns about a transient myocardial dysfunction and damage. The aim of our study was to compare the extent of marathon-induced myocardial dysfunction in young and older runners and to identify its potential correlation to elevated cardiac biomarkers. ⋯ Left ventricular systolic function is preserved after a marathon in older runners. There are right ventricular functional changes as a sign of prolonged myocardial work load. There is no significant difference between older and young runners regarding transient diastolic dysfunction or biomarker release. The latter is not associated with echocardiography parameters of myocardial dysfunction.