title: One-dimensional ultrasonic strain and strain rate imaging: a new approach to the quantitation of regional myocardial function in patients with aortic stenosis.
abstract: Abnormalities in regional left ventricular (LV) function in aortic stenosis (AS) have yet to be appropriately characterized. One-dimensional strain (epsilon) and strain rate imaging (SRI), new ultrasound (US) indices for quantifying regional wall deformation, might allow this. The aims of this study were 1. to define regional radial and longitudinal epsilon /SR in AS; 2. to establish if they are related to the severity of the disease; and 3. to determine if regional deformation is further altered by coexistent coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 40 patients were studied: Group I with isolated AS (10 women, 10 men; mean age 66 years) and group II with AS and concomitant CAD (CAD/AS) (13 women, 7 men, mean age 68 years). Data were compared to 20 age-matched healthy people (N). Regional systolic maximal velocity/SR and end-systolic and maximal epsilon were measured. The maximal systolic velocity/SR in AS and CAD/AS patients were significantly reduced compared to N. The two patient groups could be further differentiated by end-systolic and maximal epsilon, which demonstrated a further reduction in both epsilon indices in CAD/AS (i.e., maximal radial epsilon 29.3%, AS; 23.7%, CAD/AS; 40.4%, N; AS and CAD/AS vs. N, AS vs. CAD/AS, p < 0.05). Indices of radial and longitudinal deformation correlated both with aortic valve area (AVA) and stroke volume (SV) (i.e., radial maximal epsilon and AVA, r = 0.77, p < 0.05). A significant correlation was also found between epsilon indices and the severity of left anterior descending (LAD) or circumflex artery (CX) coronary artery. Regional myocardial deformation in AS is abnormal. In the absence of CAD, the degree of abnormality correlates with aortic valve area (AVA). The severity of the disease was best expressed by changes in regional epsilon. In CAD/AS patients, there was a significant further reduction in end-systolic and maximal epsilon. These changes correlated with the severity of coronary narrowing in the subtending vessel.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Department of Cardiology, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herbots
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weidemann
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Breithardt
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strotmann
authors.forename: Giedrius
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davidavicius
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: D'hooge
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Claus
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bijnens
authors.forename: Marie Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Herregods
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sutherland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013577:Syndrome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology