Direct measurement of radial strain in the inner-half layer of the left ventricular wall in hypertensive patients

Background: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) is a novel technology that directly measures regional left ventricular (LV) wall contraction. This study aimed to directly measure inner-layer thickening (radial strain) of the LV using 2D-STE, and to examine the relationship between radial strain and the degree of hypertrophy. Methods: The study enrolled 63 untreated hypertensive patients with normal geometry (N group, n = 32) or concentric hypertrophy (CH group, n = 31), classified according to LV mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT). Thirty normotensive subjects (C group, n = 30) served as controls. Radial strain (epsilon) in the inner half (epsilon i) and all layers of the LV wall (epsilon a) were calculated from the LV short-axis view by 20-STE. Results: LV ejection fraction did not differ significantly among the groups. However, epsilon i and epsilon a were significantly lower in the CH group compared with the C and N groups (p < 0.01). A ratio of epsilon i to epsilon a was significantly lower in the CH group compared with the C and N groups (p < 0.01). A multivariate regression model that included midwall fractional shortening, E/e', LVMI, RWT, and LV ejection fraction showed that LVMI (p = 0.002) and RWT (p = 0.014) were independent predictors (R-2=0.59) of epsilon i. Conclusion: Radial strain in the inner half layer of the LV wall decreases in parallel with the degrees of LV concentricity and hypertrophy in hypertensive patients. Radial strain in the inner half layer may identify subtle systolic dysfunction even in hypertensive patients with preserved LV chamber function. (C) 2011 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.