Evaluation Of Left Ventricular Torsion In Patients With Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Two-dimensional Ultrasound Speckle Tracking Imaging

ObjectiveTo explore the value of two-dimensional ultrasound speckle-tracking imaging (STI) in assessing the left ventricular torsion (LVtor) in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM).MethodsThirty-four patients with AHCM and 21 healthy volunteers underwent two-dimensional echocardiography. High frame rate two-dimensional images of left ventricular short-axis views at the levels of mitral annulus and apex were obtained. Peak rotation (Prot) and the time to Prot, peak rotation velocity on basal and apical plane in left ventricular short-axis views, the peak twist (Ptw) and time to peak twist, half time of untwisting (HTU) were measured using two-dimensional strain software while ntwisting rate (Untw R) was calculated. All the above indices were compared between patients and healthy volunteers. Correlation was analyzed between HTU and E, A, E/A ratio.ResultsCompare with healthy volunteers, Prot and time to Prot and peak rotation velocity on apical plane in AHCM significantly increased, so did Ptw and peak rotation velocity of left ventricular (all P<0.05). HTU delayed with the Untw R and peak untwisting velocity decreased in the AHCM group (all P<0.05). There was negative correlation between HTU and E/A ratio in patients with AHCM.Conclutions When the left ventricular systolic function maintained normal in patients with AHCM, the peak rotation on apical plane and the LVtor increased with Untw R decreased. STI can sensitively evaluate the function alteration of myocardium in patients with AHCM.