Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function by 2-D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Patients with Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Pulmonary Artery Hypertension

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of 2-D speckle tracking imaging in assessing left ventricular diastolic function in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD). A total of 98 CTD patients and 32 healthy controls were prospectively recruited. Early (E) and late (A) diastolic velocities of the transmitral flow were measured by pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Peak early diastolic myocardial velocity (E') was calculated on tissue Doppler echocardiography. The longitudinal strain rate (SR) was calculated as the average of three apical views, while circumferential and radial SRs were measured in three short-axis views.
Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Original Contribution Source Type: research