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Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Longitudinal systolic dysfunction in hypertensive cardiomyopathy with normal ejection fraction
José Luis Salas-Pacheco1, Oscar Lomelí-Sánchez2, Oscar Baltazar-González3
1Cardiology Department, Centenario Hospital Miguel Hidalgo, Ferrocarril avenue, Alameda, Aguascalientes, México.
Insights
Increased left ventricular wall thickness in hypertensive patients is linked to impaired longitudinal systolic function. This dysfunction is detectable even with subtle structural changes, highlighting the importance of monitoring ventricular hypertrophy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Heart Failure Research
Background:
- The transition from left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy to heart failure involves complex subcellular events.
- The precise point at which structural abnormalities induce myocardial dysfunction remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between LV wall thickness and longitudinal systolic dysfunction.
- To identify echocardiographic markers for early detection of systolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving clinical assessment and transthoracic echocardiography.
- Recruited 226 hypertensive patients and 101 healthy individuals.
- Analyzed left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), global longitudinal strain (GLS), and mitral annulus plane systolic excursion (MAPSE).
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients with LV hypertrophy showed reduced GLS and MAPSE compared to healthy individuals.
- LV septum thickness ≥13 mm was associated with decreased GLS, and ≥14 mm with decreased MAPSE.
- LV septum thickness was the sole variable linked to longitudinal systolic dysfunction (OR=1.1, P=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Progressive LV wall thickening correlates with longitudinal systolic dysfunction.
- Moderate to severe ventricular hypertrophy (septum ≥13 mm) indicates longitudinal systolic dysfunction.
- Left ventricle ejection fraction is insensitive for detecting early longitudinal myocardial dysfunction in hypertension.
Background:
The left ventricle (LV) journey in their transition from hypertrophy to heart failure is marked by many subcellular events partially understood yet. The moment in which the structural abnormalities reach the umbral to induce myocardial dysfunction remains elusive.
Aims:
To evaluate the anatomic-functional relationship between LV wall thickness and longitudinal systolic dysfunction.
Material And Methods:
We prospectively performed clinical assessment and transthoracic echocardiogram on healthy individuals and hypertensive patients with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% and absence of heart failure symptoms.
Results:
A total of 226 patients and 101 healthy individuals were recruited. The distribution for sex was similar between groups. The mean age was 67±13 years old in the patients, and 44% had concentric LV hypertrophy. LVEF was identical in both groups (63±6%); in contrast, global longitudinal strain (GLS) (-18.8±2.5% vs -20.4±2%) and mitral annulus plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) (13.8±2.8 vs 15.5±2 mm) were lower. ROC curve optimally classified decreased GLS with LV septum thickness ≥13 mm and decreased MAPSE with thickness ≥14 mm. Multivariable logistic regression found that LV septum thickness is the only variable associated with longitudinal systolic dysfunction (OR = 1.1, CI95% = 1.05 - 1.15, P = 0.001, R squared = .38).
Discussion:
A progressive increase in LV wall thickness due to myocyte hypertrophy and interstitial expansion is associated with LV systolic longitudinal dysfunction.
Conclusions:
Patients with moderate or severe ventricular hypertrophy (septum ≥13 mm) had longitudinal systolic dysfunction, GLS decreases with minor structural change than MAPSE, and LVEF is insensitive in detecting longitudinal myocardial dysfunction in patients with hypertension.
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Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
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