Two-dimensional global and segmental longitudinal strain: are the results from software in different high-end ultrasound systems comparable?

Abstract

To compare the peak global longitudinal myocardial strain (PGLS) and peak segmental longitudinal myocardial strain (PSLS) values by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) obtained using two different echocardiography devices. STE is an emerging quantitative ultrasound technique that allows an accurate evaluation of global and segmental myocardial function. However, there is a lack of standardization of the acquired data among different manufacturers. Sixty-three subjects, mean age 56.2±10.4 years, underwent complete echocardiographic studies with two different devices (Philips IE33 and General Electric VIVID E9) performed by the same operator. Thirty-one of them had known cardiac disease, with estimated left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, while 32 were free of any cardiovascular disease (control subjects). All images were digitally stored and analyzed using off-line post processing with QLAB 9 and EchoPAC 11 Software packages. PSLS and PGLS were calculated. A strong relationship between QLAB and EchoPAC was found for PGLS (r=0.91, P<0.001), PSLS-4 chamber (CH; r=0.79, P<0.001), PSLS-2CH (r=0.73, P<0.001), and PSLS-3CH (r=0.78, P<0.001) QLAB. Bland–Altman analysis showed absolute differences vs average of −0.16, −0.37, −0.21, and −0.16 for PGLS, PSLS-4CH, PSLS-2CH, and PSLS-apical long-axis views respectively. Segmental analysis showed a good agreement between the apical segments, whereas poor correlations were found for the basal segments. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that cutoff values for PGLS of −17.5 and −17.75% with Philips or GE systems gave a sensitivity and specificity of 93.5 and 87.5%, and 90 and 87.5%, respectively, in the discrimination of the patients from the controls. Both Philips and GE echo stations were found to give comparable results for PGLS, with approximately the same cutoff values, suggesting that their PGLS results may be interchangeable.

Predictors of early left ventricular systolic dysfunction in duchenne muscular dystrophy patients

“…The cutoff value of -18 seemed appropriate because it was derived from previous studies involving healthy children who represented the age groups of the patients included in our study. [19][20][21][22] Finally, it was not possible to make multiple comparisons between variables such as age, duration of disease, gait loss, use of corticosteroids, and affected exons, because the sample size was small and the frequency of some variables was very low in the groups compared. We found that half of DMD patients could benefit from the echocardiographic myocardial strain analysis for the detection of early LVSD.…”

“…LVEF was considered normal if ≥52%, as defined in recent guidelines for male patients . GLS was considered normal if it was ≤–18% . The DMD patients with normal LVEF (≥52%) were classified, based on TTE features, into the normal LVSF group (GLS ≤ –18%) and the early LVSD group (GLS > –18%).…”

“…8 GLS was considered normal if it was -18%. [19][20][21][22] The DMD patients with normal LVEF (52%) were classified, based on TTE features, into the normal LVSF group (GLS -18%) and the early LVSD group (GLS > -18%). TTE was performed in all patients by the same researcher (R.H.D.C.)…”

Self-Reported Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is Associated With Hypertension: A Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study

“…All measurements followed the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines (21). In addition, the global longitudinal strain was assessed off-line using the EchoPac 7 software (automated function imaging, AFI) (22). Global strain is a novel indicator of the overall systolic function of left ventricle, and may reveal heart disease already in early stage, when EF is still normal (23).…”

Longitudinal strain bull’s eye plot patterns in patients with cardiomyopathy and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy

“…The bull’s eye plots displayed in this review are generated using EchoPAC software by GE Vivid E9. Previous studies showed that the values of global longitudinal systolic strain obtained with Philips and GE echo systems have good correlations either in healthy population or patients [ 9 – 11 ]. The better agreement is observed in cardiac patients than in healthy controls [ 11 ].…”