title: Layer-specific analysis of left ventricular myocardial contractility in patients with coronary slow-flow phenomenon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) is an angiographic diagnosis characterized by delayed coronary opacification in the absence of significant epicardial coronary stenosis. We previously reported impaired left ventricular (LV) function in patients with CSFP. However, the LV wall comprises three myocardial layers whose contractility can be differently affected. Therefore, we evaluated layer-specific (endocardial, mid-myocardial, and epicardial) LV myocardial contractility and assessed its relationships with the number of affected coronary arteries and their flow.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 60 patients with CSFP and 46 controls. CSFP was diagnosed by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count. Echocardiography was performed within 72 hours after the coronary angiography. LV layer-specific longitudinal strain (LS) was measured using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LS of all three myocardial layers was lower in patients with CSFP than in controls. In patients with CSFP, LS of all three myocardial layers and transmural LS gradient correlated negatively with the number of affected coronary arteries and the mean thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:429-436, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yonghuai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhengyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009206:Myocardium; D054318:No-Reflow Phenomenon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: coronary slow-flow phenomenon; echocardiography; layer-specific analysis; left ventricle; myocardial contractility; strains