Regional layer-specific longitudinal peak systolic strain using exercise stress two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for the detection of functionally significant coronary artery disease

AbstractThe present study aimed to investigate whether layer-specific regional peak-systolic longitudinal strain (LS) measurement on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with exercise stress can be useful for the detection of functionally significant coronary artery disease as confirmed by invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) in stable patients. This is a prospective analysis of 88 coronary arteries in 30 stable patients undergoing invasive FFR measurement and ergometer exercise stress TTE. Regional LS in the mid, endocardial and epicardial layers was calculated at rest, peak stress and early and late recovery phases after the exercise stress test. The endocardial-to-epicardial LS ratio was calculated as an indicator of endocardial-layer dependency  of the left ventricular myocardium. Ischemic FFR defined as FFR ≤ 0.80 was observed in 33 of 88 coronary arteries. The mid-, endocardial- and epicardial-layer LS at early recovery (− 15.4 ± 5.2 vs. −  13.0 ± 4.4%,P = 0.040;  − 15.7 ± 5.1 vs.  − 13.2 ± 4.5%,P = 0.029;  − 14.6 ± 5.1 vs.  − 12.4 ± 4.0%,P = 0.038, respectively) and the percent change in the endocardial-to-epicardial LS ratio from baseline to peak stress, early recovery, and late recovery phases (1.5 ± 11.2% vs. 6.6 ± 10.5%,P = 0.009; 2.8 ± 8.9% vs. 7.1 ± 12.6%,P = 0.002; 5.2 ± 8.8% vs. 8.5 ± 13.7%,P = 0.026; respectively) were significantly more i...
Source: Heart and Vessels - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research