Tissue Doppler evaluation of intraventricular asynchrony in isolated left bundle branch block.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate normal subjects with isolated left bundle branch block (LBBB) using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) for the presence of intraventricular asynchrony.


RESULTS
For this purpose, 23 subjects with isolated LBBB were compared with age-matched asymptomatic healthy subjects without LBBB with respect to global ejection fraction (EF) and isovolumic contraction time (ICTm) in separate left ventricular segments. TDI evaluation revealed prolongation of the ICTm in all of the segments in the LBBB group. Moreover, the ICTm differed significantly in each segment in the LBBB group. The ICTm in the lateral segments were shown to be longer compared to the anteroseptal segments.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate the presence of intraventricular asynchrony in isolated LBBB. This fact may play a role in the decreased global EF and increased cardiac mortality in patients with isolated LBBB.
Melek
Mehmet
M
Department of Cardiology, Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyon, Turkey. mehmet_melek@hotmail.com
Esen
Ozlem
O
Esen
Ali Metin
AM
Barutcu
Irfan
I
Onrat
Ersel
E
Kaya
Dayimi
D
D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*