Early detection of left ventricular systolic dysfunction using two-dimensional speckle tracking strain evaluation in healthy subjects after acute alcohol intoxication.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the ability of two-dimensional speckle tracking strain echocardiography to detect left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction as compared with LV ejection fraction (EF) in healthy subjects following acute alcohol intoxication.


RESULTS
In total, 25 healthy subjects were investigated using echocardiography 4-6 hours after the onset of alcohol intoxication at a regional festive gathering, and then compared to 23 healthy control subjects without alcohol consumption. Heart rate, blood pressure, blood alcohol level, LV volumes, EF, shortening fraction, E/A ratio, as well as global longitudinal strain (LS) were recorded. Mean blood alcohol level was 1.3 ± 0.3 g.L(-1) . Mean systolic blood pressure and heart rate were slightly increased in the alcohol group compared to controls (147.5 ± 21.8 mmHg vs 127.0 ± 9.9 mmHg, P = 0.003, and 79.7 ± 10.7 bpm vs 70.6 ± 7.6 bpm, P < 0.001, respectively). While there was no significant difference in terms of LVEF (62.9 ± 4.4% vs 64.8 ± 5.9%, P = 0.18) or shortening fraction (34.7 ± 5.9% vs 36.0 ± 4.3%, P = 0.54), global LS was significantly impaired (-17.8 ± 2.0% vs -21.2 ± 1.8%, P < 0.001). In addition, subjects who consumed alcohol had increased LV end-diastolic (108.3 ± 20.1 mL vs 95.5 ± 14.6 mL, P = 0.037) and end-systolic volumes (41.6 ± 11.4 mL vs 33.7 ± 6.9 mL, P = 0.024), along with depressed aortic time-velocity integral (19.9 ± 3.2 mL vs 21.9 ± 2.5 mL, P = 0.034). According to multivariate linear regression analyses, blood alcohol level was the only factor significantly associated with global LS (β=-3.6 ± 1.0, P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol intoxication around festive days induces acute LV contraction abnormalities, which may be detected using global LS by speckle tracking at an earlier stage and more accurately than LVEF decreases.
Cardiologic Hospital, University Hospital Center of Bordeaux, CIC0005, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. Patricia.reant@chu-bordeaux.fr
Patricia
P
Reant
Warren
W
Chasseriaud
Xavier
X
Pillois
Marina
M
Dijos
Florence
F
Arsac
Raymond
R
Roudaut
Stephane
S
Lafitte
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult