Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 26, 2025
Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation
Published on: October 20, 2016
Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography for early detection of left ventricular dysfunction in children
Doaa El Amrousy1, Esam Elgendy1, Mohiee El-Deen Awad1
1Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.
Insights
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children is linked to early heart dysfunction. Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography can detect this subclinical left ventricular dysfunction, even with normal ejection fraction.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Hepatology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
Background:
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent in obese children.
- NAFLD is associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors.
- Early detection of cardiac involvement in pediatric NAFLD is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate left ventricular (LV) function in children with NAFLD using 3D speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE).
- To identify subclinical LV dysfunction in pediatric NAFLD patients.
- To correlate LV strain parameters with NAFLD severity.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 40 obese children with NAFLD, 40 obese children without NAFLD, and 40 healthy controls.
- Comprehensive echocardiography including 3DSTE to assess LV global longitudinal, circumferential, radial, and area strain.
- Laboratory tests including lipid profile and Troponin I levels were performed.
Main Results:
- Children with NAFLD exhibited abnormal lipid profiles and elevated Troponin I levels.
- 3DSTE revealed significantly reduced LV global longitudinal, circumferential, radial, and area strain in children with NAFLD.
- These strain parameters were negatively correlated with NAFLD grade, despite normal LV ejection fraction by conventional echocardiography.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric NAFLD is associated with subclinical LV dysfunction.
- 3DSTE is a valuable tool for detecting early LV dysfunction in children with NAFLD.
- Early identification of cardiac involvement can guide timely interventions in pediatric NAFLD.
Objectives:
To detect early left ventricular dysfunction in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.
Methods:
Forty obese children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were included as group I. Another 40 obese children without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease of matched age, sex, and weight were included as group II. Forty healthy controls of matched age and sex served as a control group. Anthropometric measurements, laboratory investigations, and echocardiographic examinations including three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography were measured for all included children.
Results:
Abnormal lipid profile was detected in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Troponin I levels were significantly higher in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease compared to obese children without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and to healthy controls. Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography examination revealed a significant reduction of left ventricular global longitudinal strain, circumferential strain, radial strain, and area strain in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease inspite of normal left ventricular fraction shortening measured by conventional echocardiography. All strains were negatively correlated with the grade of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Conclusion:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with subclinical left ventricular dysfunction. Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography can be helpful in identifying early left ventricular dysfunction in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease even in the presence of normal left ventricular ejection fraction.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Ultrasound II: Endoscopic Ultrasound and FibroScan
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS):
01:17Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for...