title: Decreased left ventricular torsion in patients with isolated mitral stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular (LV) torsion is a sensitive indicator of myocardial contractility and cardiac structure, and has recently been recognized as a sensitive indicator of cardiac performance. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of isolated mitral stenosis on LV torsion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 19 patients with isolated mitral stenosis and 19 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects in the study. All patients had a normal sinus rhythm. All study subjects underwent two-dimensional echocardiography. Basal and apical LV rotations and LV torsion were evaluated using speckle-tracking echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic characteristics, basic echocardiographic measures of LV ejection fraction, LV wall thickness, and LV mass index were similar between the two groups. The degrees of LV torsion (11.3 ± 4.7, 15.4 ± 4.9°, p=0.014) and LV basal rotation (- 3.7 ± 1.9, - 6.5 ± 2.1°, p< 0.001) were significantly decreased in the mitral stenosis group. There was a moderate positive correlation between mitral valve area and LV torsion (r=0.531, p=0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed significant reductions in LV torsion and LV basal rotation in patients with mitral valve stenosis. Structural and anatomical changes occurring during the progression of mitral stenosis may be responsible for these impaired movements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17100, Kepez, Canakkale, Turkey, bahkard@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirilmaz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Asgun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saygi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ercan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology