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Kadoglou NPE, Mouzarou A, Hadjigeorgiou N, Korakianitis I, Myrianthefs MM. Challenges in Echocardiography for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Non-Ischemic Hypertensive Heart Disease. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2708. [PMID: 38731238 PMCID: PMC11084735 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been well established that arterial hypertension is considered as a predominant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Despite the link between arterial hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, arterial hypertension may directly affect cardiac function, leading to heart failure, mostly with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). There are echocardiographic findings indicating hypertensive heart disease (HHD), defined as altered cardiac morphology (left ventricular concentric hypertrophy, left atrium dilatation) and function (systolic or diastolic dysfunction) in patients with persistent arterial hypertension irrespective of the cardiac pathologies to which it contributes, such as coronary artery disease and kidney function impairment. In addition to the classical echocardiographic parameters, novel indices, like speckle tracking of the left ventricle and left atrium, 3D volume evaluation, and myocardial work in echocardiography, may provide more accurate and reproducible diagnostic and prognostic data in patients with arterial hypertension. However, their use is still underappreciated. Early detection of and prompt therapy for HHD will greatly improve the prognosis. Hence, in the present review, we shed light on the role of echocardiography in the contemporary diagnostic and prognostic approaches to HHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos P. E. Kadoglou
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, 215/6 Old Road Lefkosias-Lemesou, Aglatzia, Nicosia CY 2029, Cyprus
| | - Angeliki Mouzarou
- Department of Cardiology, Pafos General Hospital, Paphos CY 8026, Cyprus
| | | | - Ioannis Korakianitis
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, 215/6 Old Road Lefkosias-Lemesou, Aglatzia, Nicosia CY 2029, Cyprus
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Cantinotti M, Marchese P, Franchi E, Santoro G, Assanta N, Giordano R. Four-Dimensional Flow Echocardiography: Blood Speckle Tracking in Congenital Heart Disease: How to Apply, How to Interpret, What Is Feasible, and What Is Missing Still. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:263. [PMID: 38275542 PMCID: PMC10815034 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12020263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood speckle tracking echocardiography (BSTE) is a new, promising 4D flow ultrafast non-focal plane imaging technique. The aim of the present investigation is to provide a review and update on potentialities and application of BSTE in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and acquired heart disease. A literature search was performed within the National Library of Medicine using the keywords "echocardiography", "BST", and "children". The search was refined by adding the keywords "ultrafast imaging", "CHD", and "4D flow". Fifteen studies were finally included. Our analysis outlined how BSTE is highly feasible, fast, and easy for visualization of normal/abnormal flow patterns in healthy children and in those with CHD. BSTE allows for visualization and basic 2D measures of normal/abnormal vortices forming the ventricles and in the main vessel. Left ventricular vortex characteristics and aortic flow patterns have been described both in healthy children and in those with CHD. Complex analysis (e.g., energy loss, vorticity, and vector complexity) are also highly feasible with BSTE, but software is currently available only for research. Furthermore, current technology allows for BSTE only in neonates and low-weight children (e.g., <40 kg). In summary, the feasibility and potentialities of BSTE as a complementary diagnostic tool in children have been proved; however, its systemic use is hampered by the lack of (i) accessible tools for complex quantification and for acquisition at all ages/weight, (ii) data on the diagnostic/prognostic significance of BSTE, and (iii) consensus/recommendation papers indicating when and how BSTE should be employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Cantinotti
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, 54100 Massa, Italy; (M.C.); (P.M.); (E.F.); (G.S.); (N.A.)
| | - Pietro Marchese
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, 54100 Massa, Italy; (M.C.); (P.M.); (E.F.); (G.S.); (N.A.)
- Istituto di Scienze Della Vita (ISV), Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Eliana Franchi
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, 54100 Massa, Italy; (M.C.); (P.M.); (E.F.); (G.S.); (N.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Santoro
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, 54100 Massa, Italy; (M.C.); (P.M.); (E.F.); (G.S.); (N.A.)
| | - Nadia Assanta
- Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, 54100 Massa, Italy; (M.C.); (P.M.); (E.F.); (G.S.); (N.A.)
| | - Raffaele Giordano
- Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Olivetti N, Sacilotto L, Moleta DB, de França LA, Capeline LS, Wulkan F, Wu TC, Pessente GD, de Carvalho MLP, Hachul DT, Pereira ADC, Krieger JE, Scanavacca MI, Vieira MLC, Darrieux F. Enhancing Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Detection and Risk Stratification: Insights from Advanced Echocardiographic Techniques. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:150. [PMID: 38248027 PMCID: PMC10814792 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14020150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The echocardiographic diagnosis criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) are highly specific but sensitivity is low, especially in the early stages of the disease. The role of echocardiographic strain in ARVC has not been fully elucidated, although prior studies suggest that it can improve the detection of subtle functional abnormalities. The purposes of the study were to determine whether these advanced measures of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction on echocardiogram, including RV strain, increase diagnostic value for ARVC disease detection and to evaluate the association of echocardiographic parameters with arrhythmic outcomes. METHODS The study included 28 patients from the Heart Institute of São Paulo ARVC cohort with a definite diagnosis of ARVC established according to the 2010 Task Force Criteria. All patients were submitted to ECHO's advanced techniques including RV strain, and the parameters were compared to prior conventional visual ECHO and CMR. RESULTS In total, 28 patients were enrolled in order to perform ECHO's advanced techniques. A total of 2/28 (7%) patients died due to a cardiovascular cause, 2/28 (7%) underwent heart transplantation, and 14/28 (50%) patients developed sustained ventricular arrhythmic events. Among ECHO's parameters, RV dilatation, measured by RVDd (p = 0.018) and RVOT PSAX (p = 0.044), was significantly associated with arrhythmic outcomes. RV free wall longitudinal strain < 14.35% in absolute value was associated with arrhythmic outcomes (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION Our data suggest that ECHO's advanced techniques improve ARVC detection and that abnormal RV strain can be associated with arrhythmic risk stratification. Further studies are necessary to better demonstrate these findings and contribute to risk stratification in ARVC, in addition to other well-known risk markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Olivetti
- Arrhythmia Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.); (T.C.W.); (G.D.P.); (D.T.H.); (M.I.S.)
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.C.); (F.W.); (M.L.P.d.C.); (A.d.C.P.); (J.E.K.)
| | - Luciana Sacilotto
- Arrhythmia Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.); (T.C.W.); (G.D.P.); (D.T.H.); (M.I.S.)
| | - Danilo Bora Moleta
- Echocardiogram Imaging Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (D.B.M.); (M.L.C.V.)
| | - Lucas Arraes de França
- Echocardiogram Imaging Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo 05652-900, Brazil;
| | - Lorena Squassante Capeline
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.C.); (F.W.); (M.L.P.d.C.); (A.d.C.P.); (J.E.K.)
| | - Fanny Wulkan
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.C.); (F.W.); (M.L.P.d.C.); (A.d.C.P.); (J.E.K.)
| | - Tan Chen Wu
- Arrhythmia Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.); (T.C.W.); (G.D.P.); (D.T.H.); (M.I.S.)
| | - Gabriele D’Arezzo Pessente
- Arrhythmia Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.); (T.C.W.); (G.D.P.); (D.T.H.); (M.I.S.)
| | - Mariana Lombardi Peres de Carvalho
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.C.); (F.W.); (M.L.P.d.C.); (A.d.C.P.); (J.E.K.)
| | - Denise Tessariol Hachul
- Arrhythmia Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.); (T.C.W.); (G.D.P.); (D.T.H.); (M.I.S.)
| | - Alexandre da Costa Pereira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.C.); (F.W.); (M.L.P.d.C.); (A.d.C.P.); (J.E.K.)
| | - José E. Krieger
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.C.); (F.W.); (M.L.P.d.C.); (A.d.C.P.); (J.E.K.)
| | - Mauricio Ibrahim Scanavacca
- Arrhythmia Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.); (T.C.W.); (G.D.P.); (D.T.H.); (M.I.S.)
| | - Marcelo Luiz Campos Vieira
- Echocardiogram Imaging Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (D.B.M.); (M.L.C.V.)
- Echocardiogram Imaging Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo 05652-900, Brazil;
| | - Francisco Darrieux
- Arrhythmia Unit, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil; (L.S.); (T.C.W.); (G.D.P.); (D.T.H.); (M.I.S.)
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Gherbesi E, Gianstefani S, Angeli F, Ryabenko K, Bergamaschi L, Armillotta M, Guerra E, Tuttolomondo D, Gaibazzi N, Squeri A, Spaziani C, Pizzi C, Carugo S. Myocardial strain of the left ventricle by speckle tracking echocardiography: From physics to clinical practice. Echocardiography 2024; 41:e15753. [PMID: 38284665 DOI: 10.1111/echo.15753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a reliable imaging technique of recognized clinical value in several settings. This method uses the motion of ultrasound backscatter speckles within echocardiographic images to derive myocardial velocities and deformation parameters, providing crucial insights on several cardiac pathological and physiological processes. Its feasibility, reproducibility, and accuracy have been widely demonstrated, being myocardial strain of the various chambers inserted in diagnostic algorithms and guidelines for various pathologies. The most important parameters are Global longitudinal strain (GLS), Left atrium (LA) reservoir strain, and Global Work Index (GWI): based on large studies the average of the lower limit of normality are -16%, 23%, and 1442 mmHg%, respectively. For GWI, it should be pointed out that myocardial work relies primarily on non-invasive measurements of blood pressure and segmental strain, both of which exhibit high variability, and thus, this variability constitutes a significant limitation of this parameter. In this review, we describe the principal aspects of the theory behind the use of myocardial strain, from cardiac mechanics to image acquisition techniques, outlining its limitation, and its principal clinical applications: in particular, GLS have a role in determine subclinical myocardial dysfunction (in cardiomyopathies, cardiotoxicity, target organ damage in ambulatory patients with arterial hypertension) and LA strain in determine the risk of AF, specifically in ambulatory patients with arterial hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Gherbesi
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Gianstefani
- Cardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC - Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Angeli
- Cardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC - Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Khrystyna Ryabenko
- Cardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC - Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Bergamaschi
- Cardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC - Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Armillotta
- Cardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC - Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emiliano Guerra
- Cardiology Division, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico Di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Domenico Tuttolomondo
- Cardiology Division, Parma University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Nicola Gaibazzi
- Cardiology Division, Parma University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Angelo Squeri
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care and Research, Cotignola, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Cristina Spaziani
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Carmine Pizzi
- Cardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC - Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Carugo
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
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