Study of Circumferential Strain in Myocardial Ischemia Using Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Objective:To quantitatively analyze the characteristics of peak systolic circumferential strain in patients with myocardial ischemia using speckle tracking imaging echocardiography and to explore its clinical value.Methods:A total of 56 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and 31 control subjects were studied.High frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from the left ventricular short-axis view at the levels of mitral annulus and papillary muscle for both CHD patients and control subjects.Circumferential strain was measured in the left ventricular short-axis view by 2D strain software.Results:With the aggravation of coronary stenosis,the peak circumferential strain of the corresponding segments decreased gradually.Circumferential strain was negatively correlated with the aggravation of coronary stenosis (r=-0.547,P0.01).Conclusion:The peak systolic circumferential strain significantly decreased with severe coronary artery stenosis even there was no evidence by two dimensional echocardiography.The regional strain of left ventricle in patients with myocardial ischemia could be accurately evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography.