Feasibility and accuracy of acoustic quantification and color kinesis in assesment of regional and global systolic left ventricular function in patient with coronary artery disease

ABSTRACT

The analysis of segmental wall motion using two-dimentional [2-D] echocardioglaphy is subjective with inter-obsever variability.Color kinesis is new technique providing color-encoded map of endocardial motion. We evaluated the accuracy of Acoustic Quantification [AQ] and 2-D for assessment of global and regional LV systolic function compared with LV angiography as a reference method. Forty ischemic heart patients who underwent coronary angiography were included in this study in addition to 10 healthy control subjects. Control subjects and patients were evaluated by 2-D, AQ and color kinesis echocardiography. Coronary Angiography and LV angiography were done for ischemic heart patients. Regional wall motion pattern [normal, hypokinesis, Akinesis, dyskinesis as well as EF were determined. Accuracy of AQ color kinesis and 2-D were evaluated and compared to LV angiography. LVEF measured by 2-D and color kinesis were closely correlated with that estimated from contrast LV angiography ventriculography[r= 0.95 and r= 0.97 respectively]. Color kinesis compared to 2-D, enhance the accuracy of EF measurements.In control subjects there was a very close agreement of 2-D and color kinesis as regard the pattern of regional wall motion. In patients group, color kinesis was significantly better than 2-D on the definition of normal versus abnormal segments [95.2% of segments correctly evaluated by color kinesis versus 86.1% by 2-D, p < 0.05]. Color kinesis is a new echocardiographic technique that provide more accurate semiquantitative assessment of regional wall motion abnormalities. Additionally, AQ is a convenient method for better measurement of EF