Speckle Tracking Analysis Reveals Altered Left Atrial and Ventricular Myocardial Deformation in Patients with End-Stage Liver Disease

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Alexander Braun¹  Burkert Pieske¹  Franziscavon Köckritz¹  Felicitas Escher¹  Kun Zhang¹  FrankR. Heinzel¹  Dennis Eurich²  EvaM. Dobrindt²  RosaB. Schmuck² 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany;Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany;

关键词: cirrhotic cardiomyopathy;    left ventricle;    left atrium;    speckle tracking;    strain;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jcm10050897

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: Cardiac function can be influenced by liver cirrhosis and should be thoroughly evaluated before liver transplantation. We investigated left ventricular (LV) and, for the first time, left atrial (LA) strain and strain rate in end-stage liver cirrhosis patients of different etiologies. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study evaluated left heart function in 80 cirrhosis patients and 30 controls using standardized echocardiographic techniques and speckle tracking technology (STE) analysis. Serum markers of liver function were used for correlation analysis. Results: While conventional parameters demonstrated no alteration in systolic function, speckle tracking analysis showed a significant increase in LV longitudinal strain throughout all cardiac layers, with significant correlation to model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. LA reservoir and conduit strain as well as LA strain rate in all phases were significantly reduced in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients compared to control. STE for the evaluation of LA phasic function seemed to be more sensitive than volumetric methods. Kaplan–Meier curves showed a trend towards reduced post-transplant survival in patients with a reduced LA reservoir and conduit strain. Conclusion: STE analysis detected increased LV and decreased LA deformation in cirrhosis patients, thus proving to be highly sensitive to cardiac changes and useful for more precise cardiac evaluation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown