ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the application value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in quantitatively evaluating the left ventricular global strain in recipients within 3 months after renal transplantation. Methods Clinical data including blood pressure, serum creatinine and tacrolimus blood concentration of 34 renal transplant recipients were collected before operation, 7 d, 1 month and 3 months after operation, respectively. Meanwhile, conventional echocardiography and 3D-STI examination were performed. Echocardiographic parameters [left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)] and 3D-STI parameters [left ventricular global peak longitudinal strain (GPLS), global peak circumferential strain (GPCS), global peak radial strain (GPRS) and global peak area strain (GPAS)] of recipients were collected. The changes of these parameters before operation, 7 d, 1 month and 3 months after operation were statistically compared. The changing characteristic and application value of 3D-STI in quantitatively evaluating the left ventricular global strain in recipients within 3 months after renal transplantation were evaluated. Results LVEF and GPCS did not significantly differ at different time points (all P > 0.05), whereas LVEDV, LVESV, GPLS, GPAS and GPRS significantly differed at different time points from preoperative to within postoperative 3 months (all P < 0.001). GPLS, GPAS and GPRS trended to decline within postoperative 1 month, and slightly increased at 3 months after operation, which was still lower than the preoperative levels. Conclusions Application of 3D-STI may sensitively detect the changes of left ventricular global strain in recipients after renal transplantation when no significant variations are observed in postoperative LVEF. Compared with conventional echocardiography, 3D-STI may more accurately evaluate the changes of left ventricular global strain in recipients after renal transplantation.