Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation
Published on: October 20, 2016
Right Ventricular Strain in Healthy Children: Insights from Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography
Renée S Joosen1, Eva A M Meulblok1, Esther H Mauritz-Fuite1
1Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Insights
Pediatric biventricular strain values differ by age, peaking in early childhood. Establishing age-specific normal values and Z-scores is crucial for accurate assessment of heart function in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac Imaging
Background:
- Right ventricular (RV) strain assessment is vital for detecting RV systolic dysfunction.
- Existing RV strain methods show variability based on age, equipment vendor, and software.
- Standardized pediatric values are needed for accurate interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine pediatric age-specific normal values for biventricular strain.
- To develop Z-score equations for biventricular strain using GE Healthcare equipment.
- To analyze global longitudinal strain (GLS) and RV free wall longitudinal strain (FWGLS) in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 129 children aged 0-18 years with normal cardiac structures and function.
- Stratification into age groups: 0, 1-4, 5-9, 10-13, and 14-18 years.
- Analysis of left ventricular (LV) GLS, RV GLS, and RV FWGLS using GE Healthcare software.
Main Results:
- LV GLS, RV GLS, and RV FWGLS exhibited a nonlinear age-related pattern.
- Strain values peaked in the 1-4 years age group and declined thereafter.
- Low R-squared values limited Z-score equation reliability, necessitating age-stratified data presentation.
Conclusions:
- Significant age-related differences exist in pediatric LV GLS, RV GLS, and RV FWGLS.
- Age-specific normal strain values are essential for accurate clinical interpretation in children.
- The development of age-dependent Z-score equations is recommended for precise assessment.
Background:
Right ventricular (RV) strain using two-dimensional speckle tracking is a reliable and clinically significant tool for detecting RV systolic dysfunction, but it varies by age, vendor, and software.
Objectives:
To establish pediatric age-specific normal values and Z-score equations for biventricular strain using GE Healthcare equipment and software.
Methods:
Children 0-18 years with structurally and functionally normal hearts, who visited the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital Utrecht between October 2020 and December 2023, were retrospectively included and divided into age groups: 0 years, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-13 years, and 14-18 years. Left ventricular (LV) and RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and RV free wall longitudinal strain (FWGLS) were analyzed.
Results:
We included 129 subjects (57% male) (0 years: n = 17; 1-4 years: n = 22; 5-9 years: n = 34; 10-13 years: n = 35; 14-18 years: n = 20). Low R2 values were strain-adjusted for age, height, and body surface area (all < 0.3), and the sample size limited Z-score equation reliability. Therefore, data are presented as mean ± SD or median [IQR] stratified by age. LV GLS, RV GLS, and RV FWGLS showed a nonlinear relationship with age, peaking at the 1-4 years age group and decreasing with age.
Conclusions:
LV GLS, RV GLS, and RV FWGLS showed age-related differences in children using GE equipment and software, which highlights the importance of age-specific normal strain values, including Z-score equations as a function of age.
More Related Videos
11:50High-frequency High-resolution Echocardiography: First Evidence on Non-invasive Repeated Measure of Myocardial Strain, Contractility, and Mitral Regurgitation in the Ischemia-reperfused Murine Heart
Published on: July 9, 2010
07:13Author Spotlight: Advancing Neonatal Cardiac Diagnostics with Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging
Published on: December 22, 2023
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies