Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography Enables Model-Based Identification of Regional Stiffness Indices in the Left Ventricular Myocardium

Introduction Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is a critical process underlying heart failure (HF) development and progression. While LV global longitudinal strain determined by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) provides a promising basis to monitor LV remodeling, reported strain measures are l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cardiovascular engineering and technology 2020-04, Vol.11 (2), p.176-187
Main Authors: Torres, William M., Spinale, Francis G., Shazly, Tarek
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Biomedicine
Cardiology
Echocardiography
Engineering
Finite element method
Hemodynamics
Independent variables
Masking
Myocardial infarction
Myocardium
Optimization
Original Article
Pattern search
Regional analysis
Sensitivity enhancement
Stiffness
Tracking
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Summary:Introduction Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is a critical process underlying heart failure (HF) development and progression. While LV global longitudinal strain determined by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) provides a promising basis to monitor LV remodeling, reported strain measures are limited by the masking of regional differences and a dependency on hemodynamic load. Objectives Our goal is to extend two-dimensional STE to enhance regional mechanical assessment of the LV myocardium—providing clinically accessible and load-independent response variables that directly reflect the LV remodeling process. Methods An inverse finite element analysis was employed with a pattern search optimization algorithm to identify regional indices of LV myocardial stiffness based on STE-derived regional LV longitudinal strains and wall geometries. Our framework was applied in two distinct porcine models of early LV remodeling, specifically following myocardial infarction and onset of LV pressure overload. Results Regional and temporal changes in computed indices of LV myocardial stiffness over diastolic pressures correlate with conventional indices of LV remodeling and show enhanced early sensitivity as compared to LV global longitudinal strain. Conclusion Our findings suggest that STE-integrated computational modeling can be used to track indices of LV myocardial stiffness and, thus, is a potential tool for HF diagnosis and prognosis.
ISSN:1869-408X
1869-4098
DOI:10.1007/s13239-020-00456-0