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Updated: Apr 24, 2026
Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation
Published on: October 20, 2016
Assessment of ventricular function in adults with sickle cell disease: role of two-dimensional speckle-tracking
Marcia M Barbosa1, Maria Carmen M Vasconcelos2, Teresa Cristina A Ferrari2
1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Ecocenter, Socor Hospital, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Insights
Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients show enlarged ventricles but normal systolic function. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain did not reveal differences in myocardial contractility compared to healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a global hemoglobinopathy often associated with cardiac complications.
- Systolic function in SCD is debated, necessitating further investigation into sensitive diagnostic markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of speckle-tracking strain analysis in identifying ventricular dysfunction in adult patients with SCD.
- To compare myocardial deformation indices between SCD patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Ninety adult SCD patients and 20 healthy controls underwent Doppler echocardiography with Doppler tissue imaging.
- Two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain analysis was applied to both left and right ventricles.
Main Results:
- SCD patients exhibited increased left ventricular (LV) dimensions and mass but preserved LV ejection fraction compared to controls.
- Echocardiographic parameters (E/A waves, E/e' ratio) were elevated in SCD patients.
- Two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain measurements for both ventricles were comparable between SCD patients and controls.
Conclusions:
- Ventricular enlargement is common in SCD, often coexisting with normal ventricular function.
- Speckle-tracking strain suggests preserved myocardial contractility in SCD patients.
- LV global longitudinal strain is influenced by age, hemolysis severity, and overall ventricular function.
Background:
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy that is common worldwide. It usually presents with cardiac involvement, although data on systolic function are somewhat controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of speckle-tracking strain, a deformation index, in detecting ventricular dysfunction in SCD.
Methods:
Ninety adult patients with SCD were compared with 20 healthy controls. Doppler echocardiography with Doppler tissue imaging was performed in all, and the left and right ventricles were analyzed by the use of two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain.
Results:
The mean age of the patients with SCD was 26 years, and 43% were men. Left ventricular (LV) dimensions and mass were higher in patients with SCD, whereas LV ejection fraction did not differ from the controls. E and A waves, as well as E/e' ratio, were also higher in patients with SCD. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain of both ventricles in the patients with SCD was not different from that of controls. The factors independently associated with LV longitudinal strain were age (P = .009), oximetry (P = .001), lactate dehydrogenase (P = .014), LV ejection fraction (P < .001), and right ventricular systolic annular velocity (P = .010).
Conclusions:
Ventricular enlargement with normal ventricular function was a frequent finding in SCD. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain of both ventricles was similar in patients and controls, suggesting normal myocardial contractility in patients with SCD. LV global longitudinal strain was associated with age, intensity of hemolysis, and ventricular function.
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