Quantification of left atrial wall motion in healthy horses using two-dimensional speckle tracking

Application Effect and Evaluation of Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Imaging on Myocardial Damage in Patients with Malignant Lymphoma Treated with Anthracyclines

Objective

The purpose was to study the monitoring effect and application value of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) on myocardial function in patients with malignant lymphoma after treatment with anthracyclines.

Methods

50 patients with malignant lymphoma treated in our hospital from June 2017 to December 2019 were randomly selected and were treated with anthracyclines to compare the cardiac global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS), global circumferential strain (GCS), left ventricular twist (LVtw), GLS × LVtw, and changes of atrioventricular inner diameters before and after 3 cycles of treatment. According to the pathological examination results, the accuracy of 2D-STI in the detection of changes in myocardial function of patients was also clarified.

Results

The absolute values of GLS, GRS and GCS after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The LVtw and GLS × LVtw after 3 cycles of treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the atrioventricular inner diameters of patients before and after treatment, with no statistical significance (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the monitoring results of 2D-STI and the pathological examination results, with no statistical significance (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Anthracyclines can cause some myocardial damage in patients with malignant lymphoma. The application of 2D-STI to monitor the changes in myocardial function of patients can give more accurate monitoring results, facilitating the early implementation of appropriate treatment.

Quantification of left atrial contractile function using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in horses after conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

In horses, persistent atrial dysfunction is a prognostic indicator of recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to quantify left atrial (LA) contractile function in Warmblood horses after successful cardioversion of AF to sinus rhythm, using standard two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) analyses, and to provide proof-of-concept for use of 2DST to detect LA contractile dysfunction in horses.

ANIMALS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS

Nineteen Warmblood horses with AF and successful transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) or medical cardioversion using quinidine sulfate (QS) were included. Echocardiography was performed at 24 hr, 72 hr, and 1-6 months after cardioversion. Conventional 2DE-derived indices of LA size and function and global longitudinal strain (S_L) and longitudinal strain rate (SR_L) during LA contractile function were measured to detect differences in LA size and function over time and between treatment modalities. The association between 2DE-derived indices and global S_L and SR_L, respectively, and the agreement of the variables to detect LA dysfunction were assessed.

RESULTS

Global S_L and SR_L, as well as active LA fractional area change (FAC) identified cases with LA dysfunction after TVEC and QS cardioversion and proved useful to demonstrate LA functional recovery over time. Agreement between active LA FAC and S_L and SR_L, respectively, to diagnose atrial dysfunction was substantial to fair at 24 hr after cardioversion and decreased with time.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that 2DST is useful to quantify LA contractile dysfunction in horses after cardioversion of AF.