title: Speckle tracking imaging in acute inflammatory pericardial diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular (LV) function in acute perimyocarditis is variable. We evaluated LV function in patients with acute perimyocarditis with speckle tracking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients with acute perimyocarditis and 20 normal subjects underwent echocardiographic examination. Three-layers strain and twist angle were assessed with a speckle tracking. Follow-up echo was available in 21 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strain was higher in normal subjects than in patients with perimyocarditis. Twist angle was reduced in perimyocarditis--10.9° ± 5.4 versus 17.6° ± 5.8, P < 0.001. Longitudinal strain and twist angle were higher in normal subjects than in patients with perimyocarditis and apparently normal LV function. Follow-up echo in 21 patients revealed improvement in longitudinal strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with acute perimyocarditis have lower twist angle, longitudinal and circumferential strain. Patients with perimyocarditis and normal function have lower longitudinal strain and twist angle. Short-term follow-up demonstrated improvement in clinical parameters and longitudinal strain despite of residual regional LV dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. marina.leitman@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leitman
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bachner-Hinenzon
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Nickolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theodorovich
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peleg
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krakover
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moravsky
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uriel
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vered
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*