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Experimental Research on the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function by Layered Speckle Tracking in a Constrictive
Xin Wang1, Wei Qiao1, Yangjie Xiao1
1Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Objectives:
In animal models with constrictive pericarditis (CP), detecting the function of cardiac systole by conventional noninvasive ultrasound is a challenge. We aimed to detect cardiac dysfunction in rat models with CP in the early stage by layered speckle tracking.
Methods:
We compared a rat CP model (n = 23, injected with a solution of 1-mg/mL lipopolysaccharides [0.5 mL] and a 10% talc suspension [0.5 mL]) with a control group (n = 20, no injection). After 8 weeks, conventional echocardiography and layered speckle tracking were used to assess the left ventricular structures and functions in the groups.
Results:
The global circumferential strain (CS) and longitudinal strain (LS) were decreased in the CP group (P < .05). The CS of the epicardial and middle layers in the CP group was decreased (P < .05), but the endocardial layer was not statistically different. The LS of the epicardial layer was decreased (P < .05), but the middle and endocardial layers were not statistically different. The global free-wall and septal-wall CS of the CP group was decreased (P < .05), mainly due to the decrease of CS of the epicardial and middle layers. The global free-wall LS of the CP group was decreased (P < .05), mainly due to the decrease of LS of the epicardial and middle layers. There were no significant differences between the groups in global LS of the septal wall.
Conclusions:
In the early stage of CP, subepicardial myocardial damage precedes that of the subendocardial myocardium, and free-wall damage precedes that of the septal wall.
