Study of left ventricular regional systolic function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by quantitative tissue velocity imaging

ObjectiveTo assess the left ventricular re gional systolic function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI). MethodsOff-line profiles of the left ventricular regional systolic velocity along long- and short-axis in 31 HCM patients and 20 healthy subjects were analyzed by QTVI, and the regional myocardial systolic peak velocities(Vs)were measured. The ratio of Vs along long-axis to that along short-axis at basal and middle segment of the left ventricular posterior wall and ventricular septum were calculated. ResultsVs of all regional myocardial segments along long-axis in the HCM patients were significantly lower than those in the healthy subjects (P 0.05 ), but there was no significant difference in Vs of all regional myocardial segments along long-axis between hypertrophied and nonhypertrophied group in the HCM patients. The ratio of Vs along long-axis to that along short-axis was significantly lower in the HCM patients than in the healthy subjects. Conclusions The left ventricular regional myocardial contractility was impaired not only in the hypertrophied wall but also in the nonhypertrophied one in patients with HCM although left ventricular ejection fraction was normal, suggesting that QTVI can assess accurately left ventricular regional systolic function in patient with HCM.