Prediction of prognosis in the UM-X7.1 hamster model of congestive heart failure using the Tei index.
BACKGROUND
Cardiac function is difficult to evaluate in small animal models of heart disease. The Doppler Tei index is a simple and non-invasive measure that can express global cardiac function even in small animal models of congestive heart failure. However, its ability to predict prognosis has not been evaluated.


RESULTS
We tested the hypothesis that cardiac functional indices, such as the Tei index, can predict the prognosis of hamsters with cardiac dysfunction. The Tei index, defined as the sum of the isovolume contraction and relaxation time divided by ejection time, and the percent fractional shortening of the left ventricle was measured in 48 anesthetized male hamsters (19.7+/-0.4 weeks old) with cardiac dysfunction (UM-X7.1), using Doppler and 2-dimensional echocardiography. The hamsters were separated into 2 groups based on the median Tei index (0.50) and % fractional shortening (FS) (21%). Kaplan-Meier analysis determined the survival rates of the groups. Both the Tei index and %FS enabled significant distinction of better and poorer survival (p < 0.01), and the survival curves were less overlapped when the animals were separated according to the Tei index.


CONCLUSIONS
The Tei index can predict prognosis in a small animal model of heart failure.
Yu
Bo
B
Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Metabolic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Otsuji
Yutaka
Y
Yoshifuku
Shiro
S
Ikeda
Yoshiyuki
Y
Kamogawa
Yasuyuki
Y
Yuasa
Toshinori
T
Kuwahara
Eiji
E
Takasaki
Kunitsugu
K
Uemura
Takeshi
T
Nakashiki
Kenichi
K
Miyata
Masaaki
M
Hamasaki
Shuichi
S
Biro
Sadatoshi
S
Minagoe
Shinichi
S
Tei
Chuwa
C
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011379:Prognosis