Study on longitudinal myocardial function of left ventricle in children with dilated cardiomyopathy using velocity vector imaging

  • Shu-wen Zhong, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center,Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
  • Yu-qi Zhang, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center,Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
  • Dr Kun Sun, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, China
  • Li-jun Chen, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center,Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China

    • Objective:To evaluate the accuracy of velocity vector imaging (VVI) in assessing the longitudinal myocardial function of left ventricle in children with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).
    Methods:The peak systolic velocity(VS), systolic peak strain(ε), systolic peak strain rate(SRS) and the time to peak systolic longitudinal velocity (TV) were measured in 25 children with DCM and 25 normal children in apical four chamber view using VVI. Left ventricular dp/dtmax (LV dp/dtmax) were estimated using the spectrum of mitral regurgitant by continuous doppler. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDD) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVDS) were measured in short axis view of left ventricular with M mode echocardiography and ejection fraction (EF) was calculated. The correlation among different values was analyzed with linear regression.
    Results:The EF of the normal children was 65.8±4.2% and the SRS of all segments was -1.26~-1.43/s; The EF of DCM children was 41.2±14.5% and the SRS of all segments was -0.31~-0.51/s; the absolute values of SRS in each segment in dcm group were lower than those of the normal children (P<0.05); the LV dp/dtmax of DCM patients was 521.8±283.4mmHg/s, SRS of DCM coerelated well with LV dp/dtmax (P<0.05,r=0.86).
    Conclusions:The longitudinal myocardial function of left ventricle in children with dilated cardiomyopathy could be accurately estimated by VVI.