Left ventricular apical rotation is associated with mitral annular function in healthy subjects. Results from the three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR-Healthy Study.

INTRODUCTION: Left ventricular (LV) twist is considered an essential part of LV function due to oppositely directed LV basal and apical rotations. Several factors could play a role in determining LV rotational mechanics in normal circumstances. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between LV rotational mechanics and mitral annular (MA) size and function in healthy subjects. METHODS: The study comprised 118 healthy adult volunteers (mean age: 31.5 ± 11.8 years, 50 males). All subjects had undergone complete two-dimensional (2D) Doppler echocardiography and three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) at the same time by the same echocardiography equipment. RESULTS: The normal mean LV apical and basal rotations proved to be 9.57 ± 3.33 and -3.75 ± 1.98°, respectively. LV apical rotation correlated with end-systolic MA diameter, area, perimeter, fractional area change, and fractional shortening, but did not correlate with any end-diastolic mitral annular morphologic parameters. The logistic regression model identified MA fractional area change as an independent predictor of ≤6° left ventricular apical rotation (P < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Correlations could be detected between apical LV rotation and end-systolic MA size and function, suggesting relationships between MA dimensions and function and LV rotational mechanics.

The right atrium in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome : Insights from the 3D speckle tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR-Path Study.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is characterized by a persistent eosinophil blood count of >1.5 × 109 cells/l and organ damage, independent of the primary and secondary causes of eosinophilia. The purpose of the present study was to assess the three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography-derived right atrial volumetric and functional properties between hypereosinophilic syndrome patients and matched controls. METHODS: A total of 11 patients with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome and 22 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography was used for calculation of right atrial volumes, volume-based functional properties, and strain parameters. RESULTS: Significantly increased right atrial maximum (68.7 ± 33.1 ml vs. 40.3 ± 12.1 ml, respectively; p = 0.001) and minimum volumes (48.3 ± 31.0 ml vs. 28.3 ± 9.4 ml, respectively; p = 0.009), as well as right atrial volume before atrial contraction (58.6 ± 27.3 ml vs. 34.5 ± 11.8 ml, respectively; p = 0.001), were found in hypereosinophilic syndrome patients compared with controls. Total and passive right atrial stroke volumes proved to be significantly increased in hypereosinophilic syndrome patients. However, global and mean segmental strain parameters did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: Increased cyclic right atrial volumes and mild alterations in right atrial functional properties could be demonstrated in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome patients.

Left ventricular rotational mechanics differ between lipedema and lymphedema: Insights from the three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR-path study.

The present study aimed to assess LV rotational mechanics by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) in lipedema (n=25), lymphedema (n=26) patient groups with age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n=54). 3 lipedema and 4 lymphedema patients were excluded due to insufficient image quality for 3DSTE analysis. LV apical rotation (9.61 ± 4.25 degree vs. 6.40 ± 2.63 degree, p <0.05) and LV twist (13.83 ± 4.89 degree vs. 10.04 ± 3.56 degree, p <0.05) are impaired in lipedema patients as compared to matched controls; similar alterations in lymphedema were not found. Moreover, in some lipedema and lymphedema patients severe LV rotational abnormalities could be detected. Our results suggest that lipedema-associated impaired LV apical rotation and twist assessed by 3DSTE could be a novel differential diagnostic point between lipedema and lymphedema.

Is there a relationship between increased aortic stiffness and segmental left ventricular deformation in elite athletes? (Insights from the MAGYAR-Sport Study).

Introduction Myocardial contractility of the left ventricle (LV) is related to arterial distensibility. Sport activity is frequently associated with changes in both LV and arterial functions. This study aimed to find correlations between three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived segmental LV deformation parameters and echocardiographically assessed aortic stiffness index (ASI) in athletes. This study comprised 26 young elite athletes (mean age: 26.7 ± 8.4 years, nine men). Results Among segmental circumferential strains (CSs), only that of apical anterior (r = 0.40, p = 0.05), septal (r = 0.47, p = 0.01), inferior (r = 0.59, p = 0.001), lateral (r = 0.44, p < 0.05), and midventricular anteroseptal (r = 0.44, p < 0.05) segments correlated with ASI, whereas LV-CS of the midventricular anterior segment showed a correlation tendency. Only longitudinal strain of basal anteroseptal (r = -0.46, p < 0.05) and inferoseptal (r = -0.57, p < 0.01) segments showed correlations with ASI, whereas that of the basal anterior segment had only a tendency to correlate. Some segmental multidirectional strains also correlated with ASI. Conclusions Correlations could be demonstrated between increased aortic stiffness and circular function of the apical and midventricular LV fibers and longitudinal motion of the basal septum and LV anterior wall (part of LV outflow tract) in maintaining circulation in the elite athletes.

Correlations between three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived left atrial functional parameters and aortic stiffness in healthy subjects - Results from the MAGYAR-Healthy Study.

UNLABELLED: Left atrial (LA) distension has been demonstrated to be linked with aortic stiffness in different patient populations. Three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) seems to be a promising tool for volumetric and functional evaluation of the LA. The aim of the present study was to determine whether correlations exist between 3DSTE-derived LA volume-based and strain parameters characterizing all phasic functions of the LA and echocardiographic aortic elastic properties in healthy subjects. The study included 19 healthy volunteers (mean age: 37.9 ± 11.4 years, 11 men) who had undergone complete two-dimensional (2D) Doppler transthoracic echocardiography extended with the assessment of aortic elastic properties and 3DSTE. RESULTS: None of LA volumes correlated with echocardiographic aortic elastic properties. Active atrial stroke volume correlated with aortic stiffness index (ASI, r = 0.45, p = 0.05). None of other volume-based functional properties significantly correlated with aortic stiffness parameters. Global peak 3D strain correlated with aortic strain (r = ‒0.46, p = 0.05). global radial pre-atrial contraction strain correlated with ASI (r = ‒0.49, p = 0.04) and AS (r = ‒0.50, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Correlations exist between 3DSTE-derived LA functional parameters and eschocardiographic aortic elastic properties in healthy subjects.

Prediction of myocardial tissue loss by quantitative densitometric myocardial blush parameters following ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

UNLABELLED: Tissue level myocardial perfusion is one of the most important prognostic factors after successful recanalisation of the occluded coronary artery in patients suffering acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The primary objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between videodensitometric myocardial perfusion parameters as assessed on coronary angiograms directly following successful recanalization therapy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived myocardial tissue loss late after STEMI. The study comprised 29 STEMI patients. Videodensitometric parameter G(max)/T(max) was calculated to characterize myocardial perfusion, derived from the plateau of grey-level intensity (G(max)), divided by the time-to-peak intensity (Tmax). Myocardial loss index (MLI) was assessed by cardiac MRI following 376 ± 254 days after PCI. RESULTS: Significant correlations could be demonstrated between MLI and G(max) (r = 0.36, p = 0.05) and G(max)/T(max) (r = 0.40, p = 0.03) using vessel masking. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, G(max)/T(max) < 2.17 predicted best MLI = 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 with good sensitivity and specificity data, while G(max)/T(max) < 3.25 proved to have a prognostic role in the prediction of MLI = 0.7. CONCLUSIONS: Selective myocardial tissue level perfusion quantitative measurement method is feasible and can serve as a good predictor of myocardial tissue loss following STEMI and revascularization therapy.