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Two‐Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Heart Transplant Patients: Two‐Year Follow‐Up of Right and Left Ventricular Function
Author(s) -
Moñivas Palomero Vanessa,
Mingo Santos Susana,
Goirigolzarri Artaza Josebe,
Rodriguez Gonzalez Elena,
Restrepo Córdoba María Alejandra,
Jiménez Sanchez Diego,
Rivero Arribas Betsaida,
Garcia Lunar Inés,
Mitroi Cristina D.,
Sayago Silva Ines,
Cavero Gibanel Miguel A.,
Gómez Bueno Manuel,
Alonso Pulpón Luis A.,
Segovia Cubero Javier
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/echo.13169
Subject(s) - medicine , ventricular function , cardiology , ejection fraction , speckle tracking echocardiography , heart transplantation , fractional shortening , transplantation , heart failure
Background Evolution of left and right ventricular ( LV and RV ) function after heart transplantation ( HT ) has not been well described. Our objective was to evaluate the evolution of echocardiographic parameters of both ventricles along the first 2 years after HT . Methods We followed 31 HT recipients with serial echocardiograms for up to 2 years. Echocardiograms with AR ≥2R were excluded. We analyzed LV global longitudinal strain ( LV GLS ) by speckle tracking in 12 segments in four‐ and two‐chamber views and RV global longitudinal strain ( RV GLS ) in four‐chamber view. Control group included 25 healthy volunteers. Results Even though LVEF was preserved, LV GLS was reduced early post‐ HT (−17.7 ± 3.0 in HT vs. −20.7 ± 2.8 in controls, P = 0.02), improving progressively until its complete normalization 2 years after HT (−20.0 ± 3.7 vs. −20.7 ± 2.8, P = 0.60). TAPSE was impaired in the early post‐ HT period and increased progressively (11.9 ± 2.9 mm at baseline vs. 19.0 ± 3.6 mm at 2 years, P < 0.001). RV GLS rose during follow‐up as well (−17.4 ± 3.5 at baseline vs. −22.6 ± 3.3 at 2 years, P = 0.001), reaching normal values 1 year after HT . Conclusion In this series of HT recipients with uneventful postoperative course, LV and RV GLS values were significantly reduced early after HT and improved progressively until their complete normalization two and 1 year after HT , respectively. This is the first study to show a full recovery of LV and RV deformation parameters and offers “normal” strain values that, if confirmed in larger studies, could be useful for monitoring the evolution of HT recipients.