title: Tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate measurements assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in healthy newborns and infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate cardiac maturational and haemodynamic alteration in healthy newborns and infants and determine reference values in this period using tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate echocardiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 149 healthy subjects. Babies from 1 day to 3 months were selected from the well-baby nursery department, and infants were selected from paediatric clinics during routine visits for health maintenance. Subjects were allocated to four groups: preterm (36-37 weeks, n = 32), term (≥ 38 weeks, n = 32), 1 month of age (n = 47), and 3 months of age (n = 38). Standard echocardiographic evaluations, pulsed wave Doppler, tissue Doppler echocardiography, strain, and strain rate studies were applied by the same person using a MyLab50 echo machine. Longitudinal and circumferential systolic strain and strain rate measurements were assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The longitudinal systolic velocity, strain, and strain rate values derived from left ventricle apical four-, three-, and two-chamber images, and circumferential systolic velocity, strain, and strain rate values derived from left ventricle short-axis images decreased from the base to the apex in all subjects (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant cardiac haemodynamic alterations occurred during the newborn and early infancy periods and were detected by tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate echocardiography. Although two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography is useful and can produce improved, reliable results in clinical practice, it has some limitations. Therefore, more studies on this issue are required.
authors: 1 Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Elkiran
authors: 1 Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
authors: Cemsit
authors: C
authors: Karakurt
authors: 2 Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Gulendam
authors: G
authors: Kocak
authors: 3 Department of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Karadag
mesh_terms: D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology*