Quantification of left ventricular myocardial deformation using ultrasound-based strain rate imaging in healthy children

Objectives To quantitatively evaluate strain rate of left ventricle (LV)and the relationship with age in normal children. Methods 92 healthy children were divided into four groups according to their age. GE Vivid 7 equipped with a M3S probe and Q-analysis software were used to study strain rate of all 18 segments of LV. Results LV longitudinal peak systolic strain rates were decreased gradually from basal to apical segments,significant differences were found between apical and basal segments in group 1～3; LV longitudinal peak systolic and peak E strain rates were homogenous among apical,mid and basal segments in group 4. Conclusions LV longitudinal myocardial peak systolic,peak E strain rates in all segments tend to be uniform with increasing age in normal children,and similar to adult distribution in children elder than nine years old.