Adventitial Cystic Disease in the Popliteal Artery Diagnosed by Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging.

The prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been increasing in parallel with the increasing prevalence of the atherosclerotic disease. Therefore, we have to be familiar with the diagnostic approach used for ischemic symptoms in the lower limbs. Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is rare but not negligible as one of the differential diagnoses of intermittent claudication (IC). Although duplex ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are helpful tools for the diagnosis of ACD, further imaging modality is needed to avoid misdiagnosis. A 64-year-old man with a mitral valve prosthesis presented to our hospital with a one-month history of IC in the right calf after walking for approximately 50 meters. On physical examination, the pulse in the right popliteal artery was not palpable, nor were the dorsal pedis artery and posterior tibial artery, although there were no other symptoms of ischemia. His right ankle-brachial index (ABI) was 1.12 at rest but decreased to 0.50 after exercise. Three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) angiography revealed a severe stenotic lesion approximately 70 mm long in the right popliteal artery. Therefore, we diagnosed PAD in the right lower limb and planned endovascular therapy. The stenotic lesion was markedly reduced on catheter angiography when compared with CT angiography. However, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) detected little atherosclerosis and cystic lesions within the wall in the right popliteal artery that did not involve the arterial lumen. Especially, IVUS clearly demonstrated that the crescent-shaped cyst compressed the arterial lumen eccentrically and other cysts surrounded the lumen circumferentially like petals. Because IVUS revealed these cysts to be extravascular structures, the patient was subsequently thought to have ACD of the right popliteal artery. Fortunately, his cysts reduced in size spontaneously and his symptoms disappeared. We have monitored the patient's symptoms, ABI, and findings on duplex ultrasound for seven years, during which there has been no recurrence. In this case, we diagnosed ACD in the popliteal artery by IVUS rather than duplex ultrasound and MRI.

Network Analysis of Cardiac Remodeling by Primary Mitral Regurgitation Emphasizes the Role of Diastolic Function.

BACKGROUND: Topological data analysis (TDA) can generate patient-patient similarity networks by analyzing large, complex data and derive new insights that may not be possible with standard statistics. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper was to discover novel phenotypes of chronic primary mitral regurgitation (MR) patients and to analyze their clinical implications using network analysis of echocardiographic data. METHODS: Patients with chronic moderate to severe primary MR were prospectively enrolled from 11 Asian tertiary hospitals (n = 850; mean age 56.9 ± 14.2 years, 57.9% men). We performed TDA to generate network models using 14 demographic and echocardiographic variables. The patients were grouped by phenotypes in the network, and the prognosis was compared by groups. RESULTS: The network model by TDA revealed 3 distinct phenogroups. Group A was the youngest with fewer comorbidities but increased left ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume, representing compensatory LV dilation commonly seen in chronic primary MR. Group B was the oldest with high blood pressure and a predominant diastolic dysfunction but relatively preserved LV size, an unnoticed phenotype in chronic primary MR. Group C showed advanced LV remodeling with impaired systolic, diastolic function, and LV dilation, indicating advanced chronic primary MR. During follow-up (median 3.5 years), 60 patients received surgery for symptomatic MR or died of cardiovascular causes. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that although group C had the worst clinical outcome (P < 0.001), group B, characterized by diastolic dysfunction, had an event-free survival comparable to group A despite preserved LV chamber size. The grouping information by the network model was an independent predictor for the composite of MR surgery or cardiovascular death (adjusted HR: 1.918; 95% CI: 1.257-2.927; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The patient-patient similarity network by TDA visualized diverse remodeling patterns in chronic primary MR and revealed distinct phenotypes not emphasized currently. Importantly, diastolic dysfunction deserves equal attention when understanding the clinical presentation of chronic primary MR.

Total atrial conduction time as a possible predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: relationship between electrical atrial remodeling and structural atrial remodeling time courses.

PURPOSE: Recently, the estimated total atrial conduction time measured using tissue Doppler imaging (PA-TDI duration) has been reported as a more accurate predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation than left atrial volume index (LAVI). The PA-TDI duration is considered to reflect electrical and structural remodeling in the right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA). We sought to investigate the association between AF recurrence and PA-TDI duration after AF ablation. METHODS: We studied 209 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal AF and 75 patients who underwent second ablation for AF recurrence. We assessed the duration from the onset of the P wave on the surface electrocardiogram to the atrial electrogram in distal coronary sinus (CS) (PA-CSd duration) indicating electrical remodeling of the atrium, the PA-CS proximal duration (PA-CSp duration) representing electrical remodeling of RA, and the conduction time in CS (proximal to distal) (CSp-CSd duration) reflecting electrical remodeling of LA. We also measured LAVI as a marker of structural remodeling of LA. RESULTS: The PA-TDI duration had a positive correlation with PA-CSd duration. In the patients with AF recurrence, PA-TDI duration, PA-CSd duration, and CSp-CSd duration in the second ablation were significantly longer than those in the first (p < 0.01, respectively), whereas there was no significant difference in LAVI and PA-CSp duration between the first and second ablation sessions. CONCLUSION: A prolonged PA-TDI duration after AF ablation may indicate advanced electrical remodeling of LA, and may predict AF recurrence after ablation in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Discrepancy of Aortic Valve Area Measurements by Doppler vs. Biplane Stroke Volume Measurements and Utility of Combining the Different Areas in Aortic Valve Stenosis　- The Asian Valve Registry.

BACKGROUND: The aortic valve area index (AVAI) in aortic stenosis (AS) is measured by echocardiography with a continuity equation using the stroke volume index by Doppler (SVIDoppler) or biplane Simpson (SVIBiplane) method. AVAIDopplerand AVAIBiplaneoften show discrepancy due to differences between SVIDopplerand SVIBiplane. The degree of discrepancy and utility of combined AVAIs have not been investigated in a large population of AS patients, and the characteristics of subjects with larger discrepancies are unknown.Methods and Results:We studied 820 patients with significant AS (AVADoppler<1.5 cm2) enrolled in the Asian Valve Registry, a prospective multicenter registry at 12 Asian centers. All-cause death and aortic valve replacement were defined as events. SVIDopplerwas significantly larger than SVIBiplane(49±11 vs. 39±11 mL/m2, P<0.01) and AVAIDopplerwas larger than AVAIBiplane(0.51±0.15 vs. 0.41±0.14 cm2/m2, P<0.01). An increase in (AVAIDoppler- AVAIBiplane) correlated with shorter height, lower weight, older age, smaller left ventricular (LV) diameter and increased velocity of ejection flow at the LV outflow tract. Severe AS by AVAIDoppleror AVAIBiplaneenabled prediction of events, and combining these AVAIs improved the predictive value of each. CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancy in AVAI by Doppler vs. biplane method was significantly more pronounced with increased LV outflow tract flow velocity, shorter height, lower weight, older age and smaller LV cavity dimensions. Combining the AVAIs enabled mutual and incremental value in predicting events.

Potential mechanism of left ventricular spherical remodeling: association of mitral valve complex-myocardium longitudinal tissue remodeling mismatch.

Since mitral valve (MV) complex (MVC) longitudinally bridges left ventricular (LV) base end and its middle, insufficient MVC longitudinal tissue length (TL) elongation relative to whole LV myocardial longitudinal TL elongation could limit LV-base-longitudinal-TL elongation, leading to predominant LV-base-transverse-TL elongation, constituting LV spherical remodeling. In 30 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 30 with aortic regurgitation (AR), and 30 controls, LV sphericity, LV-apex- or base-transverse- and longitudinal-TL, MVC-longitudinal-TL, and whole-LV-longitudinal-TL were measured by three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. Ratio of each measure versus mean normal value (i.e., LV-apex-transverse-TL ratio) was considered to express the directional and regional tissue elongation. [LV-base-longitudinal-TL ratio/global-LV-TL ratio] and [MVC-longitudinal-TL ratio/whole-LV-longitudinal-TL ratio] were obtained as the degree of LV-base-longitudinal-TL or MVC-longitudinal-TL elongation relative to the whole LV elongation. LV-apex-transverse-, LV-apex-longitudinal-, and LV-base-transverse-TL ratios were significantly increased (1.27 to 1.42, P < 0.01) in both DCM and AR, while the LV-base-longitudinal-TL ratio was not increased in DCM [1.04 ± 0.19, not significant (ns)] and only modestly increased in AR (1.12 ± 0.21, P < 0.01). Whole-LV-longitudinal-TL ratio was significantly increased in both DCM and AR (1.22 ± 0.18 and 1.20 ± 0.16, P < 0.01), while MVC-longitudinal-TL ratio was not or only modestly increased in both groups (1.07 ± 0.15, ns, and 1.12 ± 0.17, P = 0.02, respectively). Multivariable analysis revealed that LV sphericity was independently related to a reduced [LV-base-longitudinal-TL ratio/global-LV-TL ratio] (standard ß = -0.42, P < 0.01), which was further related to a reduced [MVC-longitudinal-TL ratio/whole-LV-longitudinal-TL ratio] (standard ß = 0.72, P < 0.01). These are consistent with the hypothesis that relatively less MVC-longitudinal-TL elongation in the process of primary LV myocardial tissue elongation may limit LV-base-longitudinal-TL elongation, contributing to LV spherical remodeling.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Left ventricular (LV) spherical remodeling is associated with poor prognosis and less-effective cardiac performance, which commonly develops in dilated cardiomyopathy. However, its mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized and subsequently clarified that less mitral valve complex (MVC) tissue longitudinal elongation relative to whole LV myocardial tissue longitudinal elongation is related to disproportionately less LV base longitudinal versus transverse myocardial tissue elongation, constituting spherical remodeling. This study suggests modification of MVC tissue elongation could be potential therapeutic targets.

Correlation of Right Ventricular Wall Stress With Plasma B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between right ventricular wall stress (RVWS) and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Methods and Results: The 57 consecutive PH patients and 8 control subjects were enrolled. Right heart catheterization (RHC), echocardiography, and BNP measurements were performed, and RVWS and left ventricular wall stress (LVWS) were calculated with the formula based on Laplace's law. Systolic RVWS and end-diastolic RVWS were higher in PH patients compared with controls (systolic RVWS: 77±41 vs. 17±5 kdynes/cm2(P<0.0001), end-diastolic RVWS: 15±12 vs. 8±2 kdynes/cm2(P<0.0005)). Univariate analyses showed that logBNP at baseline correlated with systolic RVWS (r=0.58, P<0.0001) and end-diastolic RVWS (r=0.61, P<0.0001). We performed multivariate regression analysis and determined that end-diastolic RVWS was an independent determinant of logBNP in patients with PH. In addition, change in plasma BNP levels after treatment correlated with change in systolic RVWS (r=0.70, P<0.0001) and change in end-diastolic RVWS (r=0.68, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Both systolic and end-diastolic RVWS were elevated in patients with PH, and correlated with the symptoms of PH. End-diastolic RVWS was an independent determinant of plasma BNP levels in PH patients.

Analysis of Biphasic Right Ventricular Outflow Doppler Waveform in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) with pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) is a progressive and debilitating disease associated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Biphasic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) Doppler flow is frequently seen in severe PH patients with PVD. In association with hemodynamics, the precise analysis of biphasic RVOT Doppler flow (RVDF) has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to analyze the relation between the hemodynamics and indices of biphasic RVDF in PH patients with PVD.Seventy PH patients with biphasic RVDF were analyzed. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and right heart catheterization. For the analysis of biphasic RVDF, the early waveform was determined as P1 while the late waveform was determined as P2. For each P1 and P2, the duration (D, seconds) and peak flow velocity (PFV, in m/second) were measured.P1D and P2PFV were significantly correlated with PVR (P1D: r = -0.542, P < 0.0001, P2PFV: r = -0.513, P < 0.0001). Therefore, we propose a novel RVDF formula for estimation of PVR, as follows. PVR = 26 - 77 × P1D - 14 × P2PFV. The PVR could be estimated by this proposed formula (r = 0.649, P < 0.0001), which is derived from one Doppler image only unlike previously used PVR prediction formula.P1D and P2PFV were associated with PVR. Moreover, this simple RVDF formula proposed herein can estimate PVR in PH patients with PVD.

Fabry disease.

Fabry disease resulting from a deficiency of α-galactosidase A leads to the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in various organs. Because the disease is an X-linked recessive disorder, males tend to develop more symptoms and more severe symptoms than females. There are also some variants of Fabry disease, and cardiac variant (cardiac Fabry disease) has the dysfunctions only in heart. Cardiac manifestations in Fabry disease are initially symmetrical and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, and later progressive cardiac dysfunction with localized thinning of the basal posterior wall. In recent years, enzyme replacement therapy has been performed as a treatment for Fabry disease, and the initiation of this therapy is expected before the cardiac fibrosis develops. Therefore, early diagnosis of Fabry disease is essential, and echocardiography is an indispensable tool for clinical practice of this disease. Then, it is necessary to remember this disease as a differential diagnosis when encountering unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy.

Validity of a Novel Method for Estimation of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Diabetic Patients.

AIM: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is routinely estimated using the Friedewald equation [LDL-C(F)]. A novel method for LDL-C [LDL-C(M)] estimation recently proposed by Martin et al. was reported to be more accurate than the Friedewald formula in subjects in the United States. The validity of LDL-C(M) in different races and patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to validate the LDL-C(M) estimates in Japanese population with type 2 DM by comparing with LDL-C(F) and directly measured LDL-C [LDL-C(D)]. METHODS: Both LDL-C(M) and LDL-C(F) levels were compared against LDL-C(D) measured by selective solubilization method in 1,828 Japanese patients with type 2 DM. RESULTS: On linear regression analysis, LDL-C(M) showed a stronger correlation than that shown by LDL-C(F) (R=0.979 vs. R=0.953, respectively) with LDL-C(D). We further analyzed the effect of serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations on the accuracy of LDL-C(F) and LDL-C(M). Although LDL-C levels showed a positive correlation with TG levels, the LDL-C(F) levels tended to show a greater divergence from LDL-C(D) levels than that shown by LDL-C(M) with changes in TG levels. CONCLUSION: We for the first time demonstrated a more useful measurement of LDL-C levels estimated by Martin's method than that estimated by the Friedewald equation in Japanese patients with DM.

Attenuated early diastolic interventricular septum bulging by pulmonary hypertension due to later developed aortic regurgitation.

A woman was admitted due to dyspnea. She had familial pulmonary arterial hypertension and typical echocardiographic findings including early diastolic bulging of the interventricular septum toward the left ventricular cavity. Her symptoms improved with medication. Five months later, she was hospitalized again due to severe dyspnea. Echocardiography demonstrated aortic valve vegetation and its regurgitation. Echocardiography also showed attenuation of early diastolic compression of the interventricular septum, however, the peak tricuspid regurgitant flow velocity did not improve. It is likely that development of left-sided heart failure attenuated abnormal interventricular septal motion due to pulmonary hypertension.

Postprandial Hemodynamics in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: Prior analysis at our institution found that patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who experience postprandial symptoms (PPS) are more likely to have resting left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and reduced quality of life. Our objective was to determine whether PPS in patients with HCM vs healthy subjects occur as a result of measurable hemodynamic alterations in the postprandial hemodynamic response. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study examining 45 patients with HCM and 10 controls who underwent fasting and postprandial 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. Postprandial echocardiographic measurements were obtained at symptom onset or 30 minutes after consumption of a standardized meal, whichever occurred first. RESULTS: The HCM population included 18 (40%) patients with PPS and 27 (60%) without PPS. Compared to controls, mean resting peak LVOT gradient was 23.4 ± 17.6 mmHg in HCM patients with PPS and 25.1 ± 33.1 mmHg in those without PPS (P = 0.10). The mean change in peak LVOT gradient after a meal was 0.7 ± 1.1 mmHg for controls, 5.0 ± 8.3 mmHg for HCM patients with PPS, and 1.5 ± 18.2 mmHg for HCM patients without PPS (P = 0.64). CONCLUSION: Although the ability to provoke an increased LVOT gradient with a postprandial, upright exercise study protocol was recently reported, the current study suggests that a resting, supine, postprandial protocol does not elicit evidence of LVOT obstruction. Therefore, future investigations should consider whether simply performing an upright postprandial study in HCM patients with PPS will provide evidence of dynamic LVOT or if the addition of an exercise component is necessary.

Angle between the common and internal carotid arteries detected by ultrasound is related to intima-media thickness among those with atherosclerotic disease.

OBJECTIVES: Although carotid artery structural variations have been detected by ultrasound, their clinical significance is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to determine whether the angle between the common carotid artery (CCA) and the internal carotid artery (ICA), designated angle α, an ultrasound-detectable carotid artery structural variation, is related to carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a surrogate marker for carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: As a cross-sectional study, we measured angle α in routine carotid artery ultrasounds from 176 subjects (130 men) with atherosclerotic disease/risk factors that attended Kouseiren Hospital in Kagoshima City, Japan between August 2007 and April 2009. We evaluated the correlation between the angle α and CCA- or ICA-IMT. RESULTS: Angle α was weakly correlated with age but significantly correlated with ICA-IMT. The correlation was stronger in subjects with an ICA-IMT ≥ 0.5 mm than in those with an ICA-IMT < 0.5 mm (Right side r = 0.475 vs. 0.246, Left side r = 0.498 vs. 0.301, respectively). Upon multivariate logistic regression analysis, angle α and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were independent explanatory variables for ICA-IMT. CONCLUSION: Angle α is related to ICA-IMT in subjects with atherosclerotic disease or risk factors in this study.

Prosthetic tricuspid valve dysfunction assessed by three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.

A 39-year-old male who had undergone tricuspid valve replacement for severe tricuspid regurgitation was admitted with palpitation and general edema. Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography showed tricuspid prosthetic valve dysfunction. Additional three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) could clearly demonstrate the disabilities of the mechanical tricuspid valve. Particularly, 3D TEE demonstrated a mass located on the right ventricular side of the tricuspid prosthesis, which may have caused the stuck disk. This observation was confirmed by intra-operative findings.

Clinical spectrum, frequency, and significance of myocardial dysfunction in severe sepsis and septic shock.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and spectrum of myocardial dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock using transthoracic echocardiography and to evaluate the impact of the myocardial dysfunction types on mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study of 106 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock was conducted from August 1, 2007, to January 31, 2009. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography within 24 hours of admission to the intensive care unit. Myocardial dysfunction was classified as left ventricular (LV) diastolic, LV systolic, and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Frequency of myocardial dysfunction was calculated, and demographic, hemodynamic, and physiologic variables and mortality were compared between the myocardial dysfunction types and patients without cardiac dysfunction. RESULTS: The frequency of myocardial dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock was 64% (n=68). Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was present in 39 patients (37%), LV systolic dysfunction in 29 (27%), and RV dysfunction in 33 (31%). There was significant overlap. The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 36% and 57%, respectively. There was no difference in mortality between patients with normal myocardial function and those with left, right, or any ventricular dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Myocardial dysfunction is frequent in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock and has a wide spectrum including LV diastolic, LV systolic, and RV dysfunction types. Although evaluation for the presence and type of myocardial dysfunction is important for tailoring specific therapy, its presence in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock was not associated with increased 30-day or 1-year mortality.

Left ventricular dysfunction assessed by cardiac time interval analysis among different geometric patterns in untreated hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a powerful independent predictor of morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. Abnormal LV geometric patterns are also associated with hypertensive complications, and concentric hypertrophy is associated with the highest mortality in hypertensive patients. However, the relationship between geometric patterns and cardiac dysfunction is not fully established. We hypothesized that the Tei index, which is a measure of global cardiac function, is a feasible parameter for estimating cardiac dysfunction among the different LV geometric patterns in hypertensive patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 60 consecutive patients with untreated essential hypertension. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: normal geometry, concentric remodeling, eccentric hypertrophy and concentric hypertrophy. We measured ejection fraction, mitral E/A ratio, Tei index, ejection time, and isovolumic contraction and relaxation times. There were significant correlations between LV mass index and systolic blood pressure (P<0.01), ejection fraction (P<0.05), mitral E/A ratio (P<0.05) and Tei index (P<0.0001). In multiple regression analysis, only the Tei index independently correlated with LV mass index (P<0.01). Concentric hypertrophy significantly increased the Tei index compared with the other 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The Tei index provides a better marker for LV dysfunction by hypertensive hypertrophy than conventional parameters. LV function in concentric hypertrophy was most impaired among all the geometric patterns in untreated hypertensive patients.

Normal values of real-time 3-dimensional echocardiographic parameters in a healthy Japanese population: the JAMP-3D Study.

BACKGROUND: The recently developed real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) is a promising imaging method to quantify cardiac chamber volumes and their functions in clinical practice. However, normal reference values of RT3DE parameters have not been fully investigated in a large, healthy Japanese population. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study consisted of 410 healthy subjects aged from 20 to 69 years who had a RT3DE at one of the 23 collaborating institutions. All subjects had no history of cardiac disease and no risk factors. The mean values in men and women were as follows: 50 ± 12 ml/m(2) and 46 ± 9 ml/m(2) for left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume index, 19 ± 5 ml/m(2) and 17 ± 4 ml/m(2) for end-systolic volume index, 61 ± 4% and 63 ± 4% for ejection fraction, 64 ± 1 2 g/m(2) and 56 ± 11 g/m(2) for mass index, 23 ± 6 ml/m(2) and 24 ± 6 ml/m(2) for left atrial (LA) maximum volume index, 10 ± 3 ml/m(2) and 10 ± 3 ml/m(2) for minimum volume index, and 58 ± 6% and 58 ± 6% for percent volume change. LV sizes decreased with age, whereas LV mass index did not change. LA sizes slightly increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter investigation determined normal reference values for LV and LA sizes, and their functional parameters on RT3DE in a large, healthy Japanese population. The results of the present study support the use of RT3DE for the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease.

Highly sensitive cardiac troponin T in heart failure: comparison with echocardiographic parameters and natriuretic peptides.

BACKGROUND: Circulating cardiac troponin T is a marker of cardiomyocyte injury, and predicts adverse outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure. However, the significance of highly sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-TnT) in cardiac dysfunction remains uncertain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between hs-TnT and echocardiographic parameters or natriuretic peptides in patients with heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed 283 consecutive out- or in-patients who had B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) ≥20 pg/mL and were examined by echocardiography (mean age 66.5±13.9 years old; 159 males). Hs-TnT, BNP, N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP), and creatinine levels were measured simultaneously. LVEDD (left ventricular end-diastolic dimension), LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction), E', E/E', left ventricular (LV) Tei index, and right ventricular (RV) Tei index were determined with echocardiography. The linear regression analyses demonstrated that loghs-TnT correlated with LVEDD (R=0.242, p<0.0001), LVEF (R=-0.369, p<0.0001), E' (R=-0.447, p<0.0001), E/E' (R=0.364, p<0.0001), LV Tei index (R=0.303, p<0.0001), RV Tei index (R=0.443, p<0.0001), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (R=-0.489, p<0.0001). Using multiple variable regression analysis, loghs-TnT independently correlated with LVEF, E/E', RV Tei index, and eGFR. Furthermore, loghs-TnT significantly correlated with logBNP (R=0.567, p<0.0001) or logNT-proBNP (R=0.647, p<0.0001). Multiple variable regression analysis demonstrated that loghs-TnT independently correlated with logBNP, age, and eGFR, or with logNT-proBNP, age, sex, and eGFR. CONCLUSIONS: The hs-TnT correlated with cardiac dysfunction evaluated by echocardiography and natriuretic peptides in patients with heart failure. The elevation of hs-TnT levels in heart failure may represent cardiac dysfunction due to minor and ongoing myocardial injury.