SPECKLE TRACKING IMAGING IN ASSESSMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITHOUT MYOCARDIAL HYPERTROPHY

Objective To evaluate the left ventricular myocardial function(LVMF)of hypertensive patients without myocardial hypertrophy by using speckle tracking imaging(STI). Methods Forty hypertensive patients with normal left ventricular filling(group A),40with abnormal left ventricular relaxation(group B)and 30normal controls(group NC)were studied.Using STI,the global peak systolic longitudinal strain rate during atrial systole of whole-layer myocardium and sub-endocardium(including the levels of mitral annulus,papillary muscle and apex)at long-axis of left ventricle views,apical 4-chamber views and apical 2-chamber views were measured.Twist at aortic valve closure,twist at mitral valve opening,peak of twist velocity,peak of untwist velocity,untwisting rate and twisting half-time of left ventricular short-axis views at the levels of mitral valve and apex were calculated. Results Compared with group NC,the findings in group A were that the peak systolic strain in basal,middle and apical segments of subendocardial myocardium reduced,Ptw,AVCtw,MVOtw,PTV and PUV increased,UntwR decreased,and HTU extended,the differences were significant(F=3.34-23.75,q=1.69-13.51,P0.05),the findings in group B were that the peak systolic strain in basal,middle and apical segments of subendocardial myocardium reduced(F=9.13-11.91,q=2.92-3.64,P0.05).A comparison between groups B and A showed the peak systolic strain in basal,middle and apical segments of subendocardial myocardium and UntwR in group B decreased(q=3.12-3.59,P0.05). Conclusion Speckle tracking imaging can be used to assess the early damage of left ventricular myocardium in patients with essential hypertension.