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Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation
Published on: October 20, 2016
Left Ventricular Deformation in Patients with Connective Tissue Disease: Evaluated by 3.0T Cardiac Magnetic Resonance
Jin Wang1, Ke Shi1, Hua-Yan Xu2
1Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Insights
Connective tissue disease (CTD) patients exhibit impaired left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain, even with normal ejection fraction. Differences in LV deformation exist between idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) and non-IIM subgroups.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Connective tissue diseases (CTD) can affect cardiac function.
- Left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain assessment provides insights into subclinical cardiac dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate LV myocardial strain in CTD patients.
- To compare LV deformation between idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) and non-IIM subgroups.
- To correlate strain parameters with clinical markers.
Main Methods:
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess LV function and strain in 98 CTD patients (56 IIM, 42 non-IIM) and 30 controls.
- Global and regional peak strain (PS) in radial, circumferential, and longitudinal directions were measured.
- Pearson's correlation analysis was performed.
Main Results:
- CTD patients demonstrated preserved LV ejection fraction but significantly reduced global and regional LV strain in all directions.
- IIM patients showed reduced global longitudinal PS (GLPS) and apical longitudinal PS.
- Non-IIM patients exhibited decreased strain parameters, generally lower than in IIM patients, except for GLPS and apical longitudinal PS.
Conclusions:
- CTD patients exhibit abnormal LV deformation despite preserved LV ejection fraction.
- LV deformation impairment differs between IIM and non-IIM patients.
- Myocardial strain analysis is valuable for detecting early cardiac changes in CTD.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) and compare LV deformation between subgroups of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) and non-IIM. Ninety-eight patients with CTD, comprising 56 with IIM and 42 with non-IIM, and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled and underwent 3.0T cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning. The LV function and strain parameters were measured and assessed. Our result revealed that CTD patients had preserved LV ejection fraction (60.85%) and had significantly decreased global and regional peak strain (PS) in radial, circumferential, and longitudinal directions (all p < 0.05). IIM patients showed significantly reduced global longitudinal PS (GLPS) and longitudinal PS at apical slice, whereas all strain parameters decreased in non-IIM patients. Except GLPS and longitudinal PS at apical slice, all strain parameters in non-IIM patients were lower than those in IIM patients. By Pearson's correlation analysis, the LV global radial and circumferential PS were correlated to N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level and LV ejection fraction in both IIM and non-IIM patients. This study indicated that CTD patients showed abnormal LV deformation despite with preserved LVEF. The impairment of LV deformation differed between IIM and non-IIM patients.
