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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Assessment of Cardiac Morphological and Functional Changes in Mouse Model of Transverse Aortic Constriction by Echocardiographic Imaging
Published on: June 21, 2016
Improved detection of spontaneous echo contrast in the aorta with tissue Doppler imaging
Marina Leitman1, Stanislav Sidenko, Eli Peleg
1Department of Cardiology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Zerifin and Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Insights
Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in the aorta is common in high-risk patients. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is more sensitive for detecting SEC, which is linked to clinical risk factors and lower aortic flow velocity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Thromboembolism Risk Stratification
Background:
- Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in cardiac chambers is linked to thromboembolism.
- The presence and significance of SEC in the aorta require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and severity of SEC in the aorta using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).
- To compare SEC detection rates between conventional and TDI imaging.
- To correlate aortic SEC with aortic flow velocity and patient clinical profiles.
Main Methods:
- Seventy patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were studied.
- SEC was assessed using conventional and TDI imaging.
- Aortic flow velocity was measured, and clinical data were collected.
Main Results:
- SEC was detected in 53 patients using TDI versus 24 with conventional imaging (P < 0.0001).
- SEC presence correlated with aortic atherosclerosis, older age, hypertension, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and prior embolic events.
- Intraaortic swirling was associated with larger aortic diameter and lower peak aortic flow velocity.
Conclusions:
- Aortic SEC is prevalent in high-risk patients and associated with adverse clinical factors and hemodynamic changes.
- TDI significantly enhances SEC detection compared to conventional imaging.
- Aortic SEC may serve as a marker for increased thromboembolic risk.
Aims:
Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) within the cardiac chambers has been associated with increased risk of thromboembolism. We investigated the presence and severity of SEC in the aorta with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and compared these to the aortic flow velocity and to the clinical profile of the patients.
Methods And Results:
Seventy patients (35 males, 35 females, mean age 64, 22-86 years) underwent TEE for standard indications. Spontaneous echo contrast was studied with conventional and TDI imaging. Aortic flow velocity was measured in the center and lateral part of the descending aorta. SEC of any grade was detected in 24 patients with conventional imaging and in 53 using TDI (P < 0.0001). The presence of swirling was associated with aortic atherosclerosis, older age, history of hypertension and coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and previous embolic events. There was correlation between intraaortic swirling, larger descending aortic diameter (23.6 vs 17 mm, P < 0.00001) and lower peak aortic flow velocity (55 vs 68 cm/s, P = 0.038).
Conclusion:
Spontaneous echo contrast in the aorta is common in high-risk patients and is associated with increased clinical profile, larger aortic diameter, and lower peak aortic flow velocity. Tissue Doppler imaging is more sensitive in the detection of SEC than conventional imaging.
