Abnormal ventricular contractile pattern associated with late systolic mitral prolapse: a two-dimensional speckle...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Mechanics
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Late systolic bileaflet mitral valve prolapse is associated with papillary muscle traction and outward basal movement.
• Understanding the mechanics of ventricular contraction in these patients is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanics of ventricular contraction in patients with late systolic bileaflet mitral valve prolapse and outward basal movement.
• To compare global and regional longitudinal strain between patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective screening of 760 echocardiograms to enroll 50 patients.
• Utilized echocardiographic parasternal long-axis views and 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.
• Compared strain values between the study group and 45 healthy controls.

Main Results:

• The study group exhibited lower global longitudinal strain compared to controls.
• A pattern of weak inferior and lateral wall contraction was identified in the prolapse group.
• The basal-inferolateral segment showed the weakest contraction (-15.8% vs. -21.5% in controls).

Conclusions:

• Late systolic bileaflet mitral prolapse and papillary muscle traction are linked to outward basal and posterior mitral annular movement.
• These conditions are accompanied by abnormal ventricular contractility, characterized by basal weakness, especially in the inferolateral segment.
• Ventricular base contraction weakness may contribute to the observed outward annular movement.