Value of three‐dimensional speckle‐tracking imaging in detecting left ventricular systolic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Objective To explore the value of three‐dimensional speckle‐tracking imaging (3 DSTI ) in detecting left ventricular systolic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy ( DCM ). Methods Totally 31 DCM patients were enrolled in this study. Left ventricular end‐systolic volume ( LVESV ), left ventricular end‐diastolic volume ( LVEDV ), and left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF ) were measured using the 3 DSTI , two‐dimensional echocardiography (2 DE ), and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ). Left ventricular end‐diastolic mass ( ED mass) and left ventricular end‐diastolic mass index ( LVED mass I) were also detected by 3 DSTI and MRI . The differences in these measurements were analyzed and compared. Results The values of LVESV , LVEDV , and LVEF showed significantly positive correlations among 2 DE group, 3 DSTI group, and MRI group. The LVEF value showed significant difference among these three groups [(33.3 ± 11.1)%, (30.3 ± 10.6)%, and (26.2 ± 10.7)%; P  =   0.04], whereas LVEDV and LVESV values were not significantly different ( P  > 0.05; respectively). Inter‐group comparison showed the mean of LVEF was significantly lower in MRI group than in 2 DE group ( P  =   0.031), whereas there was no significant difference between 2 DE group and 3 DSTI group and between 3 DSTI group and MRI group ( P  > 0.05; respectively). The ED mass and ED massI detected by 3 DSTI and MRI were (143.2 ± 40.2) g vs (190.0 ± 58.3) g and (83.2 ± 21.1) g/m 2 vs (110.1 ± 29.7) g/m 2 ( P  <   0.001; respectively). Conclusions The LVEF value detected by 3 DSTI is closer to that detected by MRI in DCM patients.