Speckle tracking echocardiography and left ventricular twist mechanics: predictive capabilities for noncompaction cardiomyopathy in the first degree relatives

• Published in: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging 2021-02, Vol.37 (2), p.429-438
• Main Authors: Akhan, Onur, Demir, Emre, Dogdus, Mustafa, Cakan, Filiz Ozerkan, Nalbantgil, Sanem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cardiac Imaging; Cardiology; Cardiomyopathy; Diagnosis; Diagnostic systems; Echocardiography; Evaluation; Heart; Hemodynamics; Imaging; Magnetic resonance; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Paper; Parameters; Radiology; Rigid structures; Rotating bodies; Rotation; Statistical analysis; Strain rate; Ventricle
• ISSN: 1569-5794; 1573-0743; 1875-8312
• DOI: 10.1007/s10554-020-02008-y

In non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM), there are several echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-based quantitative diagnostic indices, current criteria mainly placed on morphological features, and none of the diagnostic indices includes left ventricular (LV) function. LV function and hemodynamics could be normal in NCCM patients. Evaluation of left ventricular function at the subclinical stage, strain echocardiographic parameters could be used alternative to standard echocardiographic examinations. The aim of this study to evaluate; NCCM patients, their first-degree relatives, ventricular motion patterns, strain characteristics, and the predictive capabilities of these features for early diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. This cross-sectional, case–control study included 32 NCCM patients, 30 first-degree relatives (father, mother, siblings and children) and 31 healthy volunteers. All patients evaluated with baseline echocardiography, strain measurements, and ventricular wall motion pattern. There were no differences between the groups in terms of age, weight, and body surface area. We observed a statistically significant decrease in ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), E/E ′ and global strain values in patients' relatives compared to healthy volunteers (Patients’ relatives: LVEF:60.9  ±  7.2%, FS:0.34  ±  0.07, E/E′:7.51  ±  1.83, GLS: −   18.6  ±  3.6, GLSr: −   1.1  ±  0.1, GCS: −   17.1  ±  3.1, GCSr: −   1.2  ±  0.1, GRS:37.1  ±  6.2, GRSr:1.7  ±  0.1; all p values