ASSESSMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR MECHANICS IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE

The paper presents new ultrasound technology for assessment of left ventricular (LV) strain in the longitudinal, radial, and circumferential directions and the LV area strain at rest and during dobutamine stress-echocardiography in patients with intermediate pretest probability of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Analysis was performed for the first time using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (4D Strain). It was shown that in patients with single-artery left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) stenosis of 50% and more, the decreases in the global LV strain in the longitudinal, radial, and circumferential directions as well as in the LV strain area were observed at peak dobutamine stress in 4D Strain mode. Assessment of global LV strain in 4D Strain mode during dobutamine test had low sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing single-vessel coronary artery disease.