To measure left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) using speckle tracking echocardiography in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) patients and to determine whether the LV GLS predicts outcomes in those patients. Prospective study consisted of a cross-sectional phase with 61 IIM patients and 32 individuals without IIM and longitudinal phase, in which patients were divided into two subgroups: 26 with reduced LV GLS and 35 with normal LV GLS; patients were followed for a mean of 25 months, and the occurrence of cardiovascular events and criteria for IIM activity were compared. The mean LV GLS (18.5 ± 2.9% vs. 21.6 ± 2.5%; p < 0.001) and right ventricle free wall strain (21.9 ± 6.1% vs. 27.5 ± 4.7%; p < 0.001) were lower in patients than in controls. The mean N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide level was higher in patients than in controls. There were no differences regarding other cardiac involvement. Anti-Jo1 antibody was associated with general electrocardiographic abnormality and LV diastolic dysfunction. The subgroup with reduced GLS progressed with higher mean creatine phosphokinase, myositis disease activity assessment visual analogue scales, the physician\'s and patient\'s visual analogue scales, the health assessment questionnaire, and a higher proportion of relapses than the subgroup with normal GLS. There was no difference between the subgroups regarding cardiovascular events. The LV GLS appears to be useful for evaluating patients with IIM. Abnormal values are associated with more frequent relapses and increased disease activity during follow-up.

Mouse models are widely utilized to enhance our understanding of cardiac disease. The goal of this study is to investigate the reproducibility of strain parameters that were measured in mice using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking (CMR42, Canada).
We retrospectively analyzed black-blood CMR datasets from thirteen C57BL/6 B6.SJL-CD45.1 mice (N = 10 female, N = 3 male) that were imaged previously. The circumferential, longitudinal, and radial (Ecc, Ell, and Err, respectively) parameters of strain were measured in the mid-ventricular region of the left ventricle. Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility were assessed for both the end-systolic (ES) and peak strain.
The ES strain had larger intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values when compared to peak strain, for both the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility studies. Specifically, the intraobserver study showed excellent reproducibility for all three ES strain parameters, namely, Ecc (ICC 0.95, 95% CI 0.83-0.98), Ell (ICC 0.90, 95% CI 0.59-0.97), and Err (ICC 0.92, 95% CI 0.73-0.97). This was also the case for the interobserver study, namely, Ecc (ICC 0.92, 95% CI 0.60-0.98), Ell (ICC 0.76, 95% CI 0.33-0.93), and Err (ICC 0.93, 95% CI 0.68-0.98). Additionally, the coefficient of variation values were all < 10%.
The results of this preliminary study showed excellent reproducibility for all ES strain parameters, with good to excellent reproducibility for the peak strain parameters. Moreover, all ES strain parameters had larger ICC values than the peak strain. In general, these results imply that feature-tracking with CMR42 software and black-blood cine images can be reliably used to assess strain patterns in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE)-based strain values of the left and the right ventricle have been established; however, less is known about atrial deformation. The aim of our study was to assess both atrial strain and ventricular strain using 2D-STE in a cardiac 4-chamber view and to investigate the effect of possible influencing factors such as gestational age.
METHODS: Fetal echocardiography was performed on a Toshiba Aplio 500 ultrasound system. Based on an apical or basal 4-chamber view of the fetal heart, left and right ventricular longitudinal peak systolic strain (LVLPSS and RVLPSS) as well as left and right atrial longitudinal peak systolic strain (LALPSS and RALPSS) were assessed by 2D-STE.
RESULTS: A total of 101 healthy fetuses were included. The mean gestational age (GA) was 26.0 ± 5.6 weeks. GA was significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05) with LVLPSS and RVLPSS and significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with LALPSS and RALPSS. The mean values for LVLPSS and RVLPSS were -17.44 ± 2.29% and -16.89 ± 1.72%. The mean values for LALPSS and RALPSS were 34.09 ± 4.17% and 35.36 ± 2.90%.
CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular and atrial deformation analysis in 2D-STE was technically feasible and showed comparable values to current data. For future research on myocardial function (MF) of the fetus, considering GA as an influencing factor for deformation analysis seems to be adequate. Especially, atrial deformation analysis allows the assessment of diastolic myocardial function. Further research needs to clarify the clinical meaning of these myocardial deformation indices in fetuses at risk.

UNASSIGNED: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common aberrant cardiac arrhythmia. Many AF patients present with symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue, but have normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
UNASSIGNED: To determine the reproducibility of measurements of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate in patients with AF and examine if the arrhythmia is associated with abnormal LV strain and strain rate independent of age, sex, heart rate, LVEF and LV mass. We hypothesized that AF independently reduces ventricular systolic performance.
UNASSIGNED: The study was conducted as a retrospective analysis of images from 150 randomly selected patients with AF compared to an equal number of subjects with sinus rhythm (SR) matched for age, sex, heart rate, LVEF and LV mass. Half of the patients had normal LVEF (LVEF > 50%) and half had reduced LVEF (LVEF < 50%). GLS and strain rate were measured in each group, as were quantitative LV volumes and standard systolic and diastolic parameters. Results: GLS was significantly impaired in patients with AF compared to subjects with SR, both in the overall population (-12.25 ± 4.1% vs. -16.13 ± 4.7%, p<0.0001), in patients with normal LVEF (-14.41 ± 3.9% vs. -19.42 ± 3.1%, p<0.0001) and in patients with reduced LVEF (-10.10 ± 3.1% vs. -12.85 ± 3.5%, p<0.0001).Linear regression and Bland Altman analyses demonstrated good intraobserver and interobserver agreement for measurements of GLS and strain rate parameters even in patients with AF.

Subclinical heart disease occurs in up to 50% of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and is difficult to detect through conventional imaging. We investigated the usefulness of global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurement to detect a subclinical systolic ventricular dysfunction in patients with IIM.
We enrolled 28 patients with IIM and 28 matched controls in a 1:1 fashion. Standard variables for the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) systolic and diastolic function were measured and compared between cases and controls, along with speckle-tracking GLS of the LV and RV. A possible correlation between GLS and muscle strength, disease activity, cardiovascular risk factors, and other organ systems involvement was searched.
Standard variables of systolic and diastolic dysfunction were similar between patients and controls. GLS was significantly lower in patients when compared with controls for both LV (-18.7 ± 4.2% vs -21.2 ± 2.1%, p = 0.006) and RV (-19.3 ± 6.3% vs -22.5 ± 3.8%, p = 0.033). Patients with IIM had a 4.9-fold increased risk for impaired left GLS [relative risk (RR) 4.9, 95% CI 1.5-15.8, p = 0.006], which involved usually basal and mid-segments of the anterior, anterior-septal, and lateral wall. Patients with IIM had a 3.4-fold increased risk for impaired right GLS (RR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1-11.7, p = 0.04) with the basal segment of the free RV wall most frequently involved. Muscle strength, disease activity, damage and duration, other organ system involvement, and previous treatment were not associated with reduced GLS.
Subclinical systolic impairment is common in patients with IIM without overt LV dysfunction. In this context, GLS is a potentially useful variable.

BACKGROUND: Childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis are associated with increased long-term cardiovascular risk. We examined subclinical alterations in myocardial mechanics longitudinally in children with CKD, during dialysis, and following renal transplantation.
METHODS: Forty-eight children with CKD (stage III or higher) who received kidney transplants from 2008 to 2014 were included in a retrospective study and compared to 192 age- and sex-matched healthy children. Measurements of cardiac systolic and diastolic function were performed, and global longitudinal strain (GLS) and circumferential strain (GCS) were measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography at CKD, during dialysis, and 1 year following kidney transplantation. Mixed-effects modeling examined changes in GLS and GCS over different disease stages.
RESULTS: Children with CKD had a mean age of 10 ± 5 years and 67% were male. Eighteen children received preemptive transplantation. Children with CKD had increased left ventricular mass, lower GLS, and impaired diastolic function (lower E/A ratio and E\' velocities) than healthy children. Changes in left ventricular diastolic parameters persisted during dialysis and after renal transplantation. Dialysis was associated with reduced GLS compared to CKD (β = 1.6, 95% confidence interval 0.2-3.0); however, this was not significant after adjustment for systolic blood pressure and CKD duration. Post-transplantation GLS levels were similar to those at CKD assessment. GCS was unchanged during dialysis but significantly improved following transplantation.
CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in diastolic parameters in childhood CKD that persist during dialysis and after transplantation. Systolic parameters are preserved, with significant improvement in systolic myocardial deformation following transplantation. The impact of persistent diastolic changes on long-term outcomes requires further investigation.

The objective of this study is to assess changes in cardiac deformation during acute cellular- and antibody-mediated rejection in pediatric HT recipients. Pediatric HT recipients aged ≤18 years with at least one episode of biopsy-diagnosed rejection from 2006 to 2013 were included. Left ventricular systolic S (SS) and SR (SSr) data were acquired using 2D speckle tracking on echocardiograms obtained within 12 h of right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. A mixed effect model was used to compare cardiac deformation during CR (Grade ≥ 1R), AMR (pAMR ≥ 2), and mixed rejection (CR and AMR positive) versus no rejection (Grade 0R and pAMR 0 or 1). A total of 20 subjects (10 males, 50%) with 71 rejection events (CR 35, 49%; AMR 21, 30% and mixed 15, 21%) met inclusion criteria. The median time from HT to first biopsy used for analysis was 5 months (IQR 0.25-192 months). Average LV longitudinal SS and SSr were reduced significantly during rejection (SS: -17.2 ± 3.4% vs. -10.7 ± 4.5%, p < 0.001 and SSr: -1.2 ± 0.2 s- 1 vs. -0.9 ± 0.3 s- 1; p < 0.001) and in all rejection types. Average LV short-axis radial SS was reduced only in CR compared to no rejection (p = 0.04), while average LV circumferential SS and SSr were reduced significantly in AMR compared to CR (SS: 18.9 ± 4.2% vs. 20.8 ± 8.8%, p = 0.03 and SSr: 1.35 ± 0.8 s- 1 vs. 1.54 ± 0.9 s- 1; p = 0.03). In pediatric HT recipients, LV longitudinal SS and SSr were reduced in all rejection types, while LV radial SS was reduced only in CR. LV circumferential SS and SSr further differentiated between CR and AMR with a significant reduction seen in AMR as compared to CR. This novel finding suggests mechanistic differences between AMR- and CR-induced myocardial injury which may be useful in non-invasively predicting the type of rejection in pediatric HT recipients.

The aim of this study was to investigate subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (j-SLE) patients with speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and the effects of disease activity on left ventricular (LV) regional functions. Thirty-five patients with j-SLE and 30 healthy children (control group) were evaluated between January and August 2015. STE was performed on all patients and controls. Medical records, including diagnosis criteria, age at diagnosis, and duration of disease, were evaluated. SLE disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). j-SLE patients had lower ejection fraction than did control subjects but still within normal range. LV end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions were significantly larger in j-SLE patients (32.43 ± 3.2 vs 28.3 ± 3.1 and 21.1 ± 1.9 vs 18.9.0 ± 2.2, respectively; p = 0.001). There was a significant reduction in longitudinal strain of LV segments in the j-SLE patients compared with controls. J-SLE patients were further divided into subgroups. Group 1 comprised patients having SLEDAI scores >8 at the onset of disease but who improved with therapy during follow-up. Group 2 included j-SLE patients with SLEDAI scores >8 at diagnosis and persistently >4 at the end of follow-up. In the LV mid-inferior and mid-inferolateral segments, STE strain measurements of group 2 were significantly lower than those of group 1 (15.9 ± 6.4 vs 20.0 ± 4.4, 17.9 ± 7.2 vs 23.2 ± 3.8; p = 0.075, p = 0.055, respectively). Simple and non-invasive STE would be helpful in predicting cardiovascular prognosis with new therapeutic medications/interventions or in objectively comparing the effects of immunosuppressive drugs in comparison with preceding STE evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential clinical application of ultrasonic tissue indices, with a focus on systolic strain (SS) and systolic strain rate (SSR) parameters derived from transthoracic echocardiography, in the assessment of left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis.
METHODS: The data of 30 patients with significant LAD stenosis were analysed. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography to obtain systolic myocardial velocity (Sm), longitudinal SS, and SSR from basal, mid, and apical segments of anterior and inferior walls in two-chamber apical view. Severity of LAD obstruction was measured by means of fractional flow reserve (FFR) during coronary catheterisation.
RESULTS: Systolic velocities, strain, and strain rate measured in basal, middle, and apical segments of the anterior left ventricular (LV) wall were lower when compared to those obtained from the corresponding, i.e. unaffected, inferior LV wall. There was a significant correlation between FFR and the value of SS, SSR characterising the apical LV segment of the anterior wall (r = -0.583, p = 0.01; r = -0.598, p = 0.01, respectively). Moreover, we found significant correlation between FFR and Sm in the mid-segment of the LV anterior wall (r = 0.611, p = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that SS and SSR obtained from the apical segment of the anterior LV wall may be related to the severity of LAD stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the frequency and magnitude of impaired systolic deformation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
BACKGROUND: Although diastolic dysfunction is widely considered a key pathophysiologic mediator of HFpEF, the prevalence of concomitant systolic dysfunction has not been clearly defined.
METHODS: We assessed myocardial systolic and diastolic function in 219 HFpEF patients from a contemporary HFpEF clinical trial. Myocardial deformation was assessed using a vendor-independent 2-dimensional speckle-tracking software. The frequency and severity of impaired deformation was assessed in HFpEF, and compared to 50 normal controls free of cardiovascular disease and to 44 age- and sex-matched hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction (hypertensive heart disease) but no HF. Among HFpEF patients, clinical, echocardiographic, and biomarker correlates of left ventricular strain were determined.
RESULTS: The HFpEF patients had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and evidence of diastolic dysfunction. Compared to both normal controls and hypertensive heart disease patients, the HFpEF patients demonstrated significantly lower longitudinal strain (LS) (-20.0 ± 2.1 and -17.07 ± 2.04 vs. -14.6 ± 3.3, respectively, p < 0.0001 for both) and circumferential strain (CS) (-27.1 ± 3.1 and -30.1 ± 3.5 vs. -22.9 ± 5.9, respectively; p < 0.0001 for both). In HFpEF, both LS and CS were related to LVEF (LS, R = -0.46; p < 0.0001; CS, R = -0.51; p < 0.0001) but not to standard echocardiographic measures of diastolic function (E\' or E/E\'). Lower LS was modestly associated with higher NT-proBNP, even after adjustment for 10 baseline covariates including LVEF, measures of diastolic function, and LV filling pressure (multivariable adjusted p = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Strain imaging detects impaired systolic function despite preserved global LVEF in HFpEF that may contribute to the pathophysiology of the HFpEF syndrome. (LCZ696 Compared to Valsartan in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Preserved Left-ventricular Ejection Fraction; NCT00887588).