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Updated: Oct 30, 2025

Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation
09:05

Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation

Published on: October 20, 2016

19.8K

Left ventricular longitudinal strain alterations in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic paediatric patients with

Domenico Sirico1, Costanza Di Chiara2, Paola Costenaro2

  • 1Department for Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology Unit, Via Nicolò Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.

European Heart Journal. Cardiovascular Imaging
|July 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children with mild COVID-19 showed reduced left ventricular deformation, indicating potential cardiac involvement. Further follow-up is necessary to assess the long-term impact of these subtle changes in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • COVID-19 in children often presents with mild symptoms, but cardiac involvement requires investigation.
  • Understanding subclinical cardiac effects in pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for long-term health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate cardiac involvement, specifically left ventricular (LV) deformation, in previously healthy children with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • To compare echocardiographic parameters between infected children and a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 53 pediatric patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic) and 32 healthy controls.
  • Transthoracic echocardiogram and speckle tracking echocardiography performed at least 3 months post-diagnosis.
  • Comparison of LV ejection fraction, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and LV global longitudinal strain between groups.

Main Results:

  • LV ejection fraction was significantly lower in infected children compared to controls (62.4% vs. 65.2%, P=0.012).
  • Regional LV strain analysis revealed reduced mid-wall segment strain in infected children.
  • 26% of infected children exhibited reduced regional peak systolic strain in at least two segments.

Conclusions:

  • SARS-CoV-2 infection can impact LV deformation in children, even with mild acute illness.
  • A significant proportion of pediatric patients show subclinical cardiac alterations.
  • Long-term follow-up is essential to determine the reversibility and clinical significance of these echocardiographic findings.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2longitudinal strainpaediatric cardiologyspeckle tracking echocardiography

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