Assessment of regional myocardial function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by tissue strain imaging

Objective To assess regional myocardial systolic and diastolic function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) by tissue strain imaging(SI).Methods Doppler echocardiography and SI were performed in patients with HCM(n=30) and age-matched healthy subjects(n=25) at apical four-chamber view.Regional longitudinal peak systolic strain was measured at basal,mid and apical segments of septal and lateral walls in both groups,compared between both groups and between intragroup,reversed segments were observed in HCM group.Meantime,post-systolic strain(PSS) segment numbers were counted and its amplitude was calculated;Correlation was analyzed between peak systolic strain and thickness in mid-septum.Results Peak systolic strain of different segment in patients with HCM was significant reduced than those in control group(P0.05),peak systolic strain in the mid-septum was lowest and reversed segments were found in 40% thickening segment in the HCM group;PSS presents in both HCM and control groups,but amplitude of PSS in control group was less(P0.05);There was a significant correlation between peak systolic strain and thickness in mid-septum(r=0.83).Conclusion Left ventricular regional myocardial systolic and diastolic function has been impaired in patients with HCM,especially in thickening segments.SI is a sensitive and accurate technology to detect it.