Two-dimensional strain in patients with myocardial infarction measured by speckle tracking echocardiography

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of speckle tracking echocardiography for the measurement of two-dimensional strain in patients with myocardial infarction.Methods Study population consisted of 30 patients with myocardial infarction and 30 healthy subjects.High frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from the left ventricular short-axis views at the levels of mitral annulus,papillary muscle and apex,and the apical four-chamber view,two-chamber view and long-axis view of the left ventricle respectively.The longitudinal strain was measured in the apical views.Radial strain,circumferential strain and rotation were measured in the left ventricular short-axis views using 2D strain software.Results Two-dimensional strain was obtained in 158 of 177 segments with regional wall motion abnormalities in patients with myocardial infarction.Infarct segments in myocardial infarction patients showed significant reduction of longitudinal strain compared with normal myocardium(P0.01).Infarct segments in myocardial infarction patients showed significant reduction of radial strain and circumferential strain compared with normal myocardium(P0.05).There was no significant difference in myocardial rotation between normal myocardium and infarct segments.Conclusion Regional wall motion of left ventricule in patients with myocardial infarction can be evaluated accurately with Speckle tracking echocardiography.