title: [Evaluation of left ventricular function by systolic time intervals].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of left ventricular systolic function, usually based on the assessment of the ejection fraction, is increasingly supplemented by other more sophisticated techniques such as 3D echocardiography and speckle tracking. However these methods require a high technicity and a good echogenicity. As heart failure leads to lengthening of aortic pre-ejectional time (PET) and shortening of left ventricular ejection time (ET), systolic time intervals (STI) were proposed for the evaluation of systolic myocardial performance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to establish a correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and STI and determine a cut-off value of PET/ET ratio to diagnose a LVEF inferior to 35%.
  
  
  METHODS
  109 consecutive patients referred to two echocardiographic laboratories had measurements of STI and LVEF estimated by Simpson biplane method. Patients included were in sinus rhythm with a heart rate<100 beats per minute. Patients with atrial fibrillation, pacemaker or prosthetic valves were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Feasibility of STI measurements was 100%. A significant negative correlation between PET and LVEF was found (r=-0.49, p<0.0001). LVEF was also significantly correlated to ET (r=0.44, p<0.0001). PET/ET ratio was significantly correlated to LVEF (r=-0.63, p<0.0001). Receiver operating curve analyses revealed a cut-off value of PET/ET ratio of 0.33 to diagnose a LVEF<35% with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 78%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STI, easy to obtain and useful in case of poor quality echographic window, are an interesting alternative to evaluate systolic left ventricular function and may be used to detect alteration of LVEF.
authors: Ikram
authors: I
authors: Kammoun
authors: Lilia
authors: L
authors: Zakhama
authors: Houcem
authors: H
authors: Boussaidi
authors: Mejdi
authors: M
authors: Mimouni
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Marrakchi
authors: Iskander
authors: I
authors: Slama
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Naccache
authors: Basma
authors: B
authors: Herbegue
authors: Zied
authors: Z
authors: Ibn El Hadj
authors: Elhem
authors: E
authors: Boussabah
authors: Faten
authors: F
authors: Jebri
authors: Moez
authors: M
authors: Thameur
authors: Faouzi
authors: F
authors: Addad
authors: Soraya
authors: S
authors: Ben Youssef
authors: Salem
authors: S
authors: Kachboura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013599:Systole; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left