Comparison of left ventricular systolic function by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography between normal pregnant women and pregnant women with preeclampsia

Abstract

Introduction: In light of previous studies reporting the significant effects of preeclampsia on cardiac dimensions, we sought to evaluate changes in the left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions in patients with preeclampsia with a view to investigating changes in cardiac strain. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated healthy pregnant women and pregnant women suffering from preeclampsia who were referred to our hospital for routine healthcare services. LV strain was measured by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Results: Compared with the healthy group, echocardiography in the group with preeclampsia showed a significant increase in the LV end-diastolic diameter (47.43 ± 4.94 mm vs 44.84 ± 4.30 mm; P = 0.008), the LV end-systolic diameter (31.16 ± 33.3 mm vs 29.20 ± 3.75 mm; P = 0.008), and the right ventricular diameter (27.93 ± 1.71 mm vs 24.53 ± 23.3; P = 0.001). The mean global longitudinal strain was -18.69 ± 2.8 in the group with preeclampsia and -19.39 ± 3.49 in the healthy group, with the difference not constituting statistical significance (P = 0.164). The mean global circumferential strain in the groups with and without preeclampsia was -20.4 ± 12.4 and -22.68 ± 5.50, respectively, which was significantly lower in the preeclampsia group (P = 0.028). Conclusion: The development of preeclampsia was associated with an increase in the right and left ventricular diameters, as well as a decrease in the ventricular systolic function, demonstrated by a decline in global circumferential strain.

Observation of changes in left atrial and left ventricular function in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy based on myocardial strain

“…Butnariu et al (8) observed that abnormality of left ventricular systolic function occurred later than that of left ventricular diastolic function; therefore, when the left ventricular diastolic function was impaired, the systolic function was still at a normal level. In the study of Mostafavi et al (9), the left ventricular systolic function in normal pregnant women was also impaired to varying degrees, and thus LVEF may not be sufficiently sensitive to evaluate the left ventricular systolic function in HDP patients. In terms of LAAEF, we found that it was higher in the HDP group than that in the normal group.…”

Inflammation, Gestational Hypertension, and Preeclampsia – a Dangerous Association

“…According to the authors, increased systolic diameters, increased right ventricular diameters, diastolic termination, and decreased global circumferential strain were all expected in patients with preeclampsia. 45 The values of left ventricular and right ventricular global longitudinal strain were significantly lower in preeclamptic patients than in controls during pregnancy. In the postpartum period, left ventricular global longitudinal strain values of preeclamptic patients increased significantly, becoming similar to those of the controls at 6 months, while the right ventricular global longitudinal strain of preeclamptic patients decreased significantly.…”

Chest conformation spuriously influences strain parameters of myocardial contractile function in healthy pregnant women

“…Most of the previous studies [31][32][33] focused on 2D-STE analysis of myocardial strain parameters in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. These studies demonstrated a significant impairment in longitudinal, radial and circumferential myocardial strain parameters, which could be persistent also for months after the delivery, even in individuals with preserved CO and LVEF.…”