Utility of speckle tracking echocardiography imaging in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
BACKGROUND
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is characterized by the progressive replacement of ventricular myocytes with variable amounts of fibrous and adipose tissue. Several studies have suggested that speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) parameters such as strain (S) and strain rate (SR) may prove useful in the early detection of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate RV myocardial function using the STE method in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with ARVD and to assess its potential role in the differential diagnosis of these two presentations.


METHODS
We recruited 34 patients with ARVD. Seventeen patients were symptomatic, and seventeen were asymptomatic.


RESULTS
The RV free wall global longitudinal S and SR were significantly lower in symptomatic patients with ARVD than in asymptomatic patients. According to a cutoff value of 1.35 per seconds for RV global SR, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting ARVD were 88% and 77%, respectively. According to a cutoff value of 17.3% for RV S, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting ARVD were 82% and 77%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, we present strong evidence that STE-derived global S and SR in the RV free wall are decreased in symptomatic patients with ARVD compared with asymptomatic patients.
Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Elnur
E
Alizade
Cardiology Department, Kars Harakani State Hospital, Kars, Turkey.
Mahmut
M
Yesin
Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Mehmet Mustafa
MM
Tabakci
Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Anıl
A
Avci
Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Bulut
Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Göksel
G
Acar
Cardiology Department, Kartal Yavuz Selim State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Zeki
Z
Şimşek
Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Servet
S
Izci
Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Süleyman
S
Barutçu
Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Selçuk
S
Pala
D000328:Adult; D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000276:immunology*
arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia; right ventricular function; strain; strain rate imaging