title: Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Heart Transplant Patients: Two-Year Follow-Up of Right and Left Ventricular Function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evolution of left and right ventricular (LV and RV) function after heart transplantation (HT) has not been well described. Our objective was to evaluate the evolution of echocardiographic parameters of both ventricles along the first 2 years after HT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We followed 31 HT recipients with serial echocardiograms for up to 2 years. Echocardiograms with AR ≥2R were excluded. We analyzed LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) by speckle tracking in 12 segments in four- and two-chamber views and RV global longitudinal strain (RV GLS) in four-chamber view. Control group included 25 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Even though LVEF was preserved, LV GLS was reduced early post-HT (-17.7 ± 3.0 in HT vs. -20.7 ± 2.8 in controls, P = 0.02), improving progressively until its complete normalization 2 years after HT (-20.0 ± 3.7 vs. -20.7 ± 2.8, P = 0.60). TAPSE was impaired in the early post-HT period and increased progressively (11.9 ± 2.9 mm at baseline vs. 19.0 ± 3.6 mm at 2 years, P < 0.001). RV GLS rose during follow-up as well (-17.4 ± 3.5 at baseline vs. -22.6 ± 3.3 at 2 years, P = 0.001), reaching normal values 1 year after HT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this series of HT recipients with uneventful postoperative course, LV and RV GLS values were significantly reduced early after HT and improved progressively until their complete normalization two and 1 year after HT, respectively. This is the first study to show a full recovery of LV and RV deformation parameters and offers "normal" strain values that, if confirmed in larger studies, could be useful for monitoring the evolution of HT recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moñivas Palomero
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mingo Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Josebe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goirigolzarri Artaza
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Alejandra
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Restrepo Córdoba
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiménez Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Betsaida
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rivero Arribas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia Lunar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mitroi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sayago Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cavero Gibanel
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Failure, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez Bueno
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Failure, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Alonso Pulpón
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Failure, University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Segovia Cubero
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: acute rejection; heart transplantation; speckle tracking; strain