Pregnancy Effect on Echocardiographic Parameters in Great Dane Bitches

Pregnancy is associated with adaptation of the left ventricular (LV) function. Due to differences between breeds in baseline echocardiographic values and specific predispositions for myocardial diseases, breed-specific echocardiographic parameters may be helpful to evaluate whether the systolic function varies during pregnancy. This study enrolled nine healthy Great Dane bitches with uncomplicated pregnancy. Echocardiographic M-mode and B-mode data were collected before ovulation and within 7 days of the predicted parturition term. Evaluated parameters were: LV dimension in diastole (LVd) and systole (LVs), end-diastolic (EDVI) and end-systolic (ESVI) volumes indexed to body surface area (BSA), end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic (ESV), end-point-septal-separation (EPSS), left atrium to aortic root ratio (LA/Ao), sphericity index (SI), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), and cardiac output (CO). The ANOVA showed a statistical effect of the age of gestation (p < 0.01) on the increase of diastolic dimensions and functional parameters and on the decrease of systolic dimensions. The CO increase parallels the rise in SV and HR (p < 0.01). No statistical differences were observed for EPSS, LA/Ao, and SI. The changes in cardiac chambers and function are likely to reflect maternal adaptation to allow the fetal development in uncomplicated pregnancy. The present study provides specific echocardiographic values in uncomplicated pregnancy of Great Danes, showing that the systolic function is enhanced and that the increase in preload, observed during gestation, is the likely mechanism.

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Effects of avertin versus xylazine-ketamine anesthesia on cardiac function in normal mice

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.2001.281.5.h1938 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 281 (5) ◽

pp. H1938-H1945 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Chari Y. T. Hart ◽

John C. Burnett ◽

Margaret M. Redfield

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Function ◽

Diastolic Pressure ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Pressure Rise ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Lv Function ◽

Ketamine Anesthesia ◽

The Difference ◽

And Function ◽

Derivatives Of

Anesthetic regimens commonly administered during studies that assess cardiac structure and function in mice are xylazine-ketamine (XK) and avertin (AV). While it is known that XK anesthesia produces more bradycardia in the mouse, the effects of XK and AV on cardiac function have not been compared. We anesthetized normal adult male Swiss Webster mice with XK or AV. Transthoracic echocardiography and closed-chest cardiac catheterization were performed to assess heart rate (HR), left ventricular (LV) dimensions at end diastole and end systole (LVDd and LVDs, respectively), fractional shortening (FS), LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), the time constant of isovolumic relaxation (τ), and the first derivatives of LV pressure rise and fall (dP/d t max and dP/d t min, respectively). During echocardiography, HR was lower in XK than AV mice (250 ± 14 beats/min in XK vs. 453 ± 24 beats/min in AV, P < 0.05). Preload was increased in XK mice (LVDd: 4.1 ± 0.08 mm in XK vs. 3.8 ± 0.09 mm in AV, P < 0.05). FS, a load-dependent index of systolic function, was increased in XK mice (45 ± 1.2% in XK vs. 40 ± 0.8% in AV, P < 0.05). At LV catheterization, the difference in HR with AV (453 ± 24 beats/min) and XK (342 ± 30 beats/min, P < 0.05) anesthesia was more variable, and no significant differences in systolic or diastolic function were seen in the group as a whole. However, in XK mice with HR <300 beats/min, LVEDP was increased (28 ± 5 vs. 6.2 ± 2 mmHg in mice with HR >300 beats/min, P < 0.05), whereas systolic (LV dP/d t max: 4,402 ± 798 vs. 8,250 ± 415 mmHg/s in mice with HR >300 beats/min, P < 0.05) and diastolic (τ: 23 ± 2 vs. 14 ± 1 ms in mice with HR >300 beats/min, P < 0.05) function were impaired. Compared with AV, XK produces profound bradycardia with effects on loading conditions and ventricular function. The disparate findings at echocardiography and LV catheterization underscore the importance of comprehensive assessment of LV function in the mouse.

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Effects of Pirfenidone on Echocardiographic Parameters of Left Ventricular Structure and Function in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine ◽

10.2478/jim-2020-0009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 35-42

Author(s):

Shehab Al-Ansari ◽

Allen Borowski ◽

Ali Fuad ◽

Omar Alawadhi ◽

Haris Riaz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Group ◽

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Diastolic Dysfunction ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Control Group ◽

Lv Function ◽

Echocardiographic Parameters ◽

And Function

AbstractAim: Pirfenidone is a novel anti-fibrotic agent utilized in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It has been implicated in mitigating myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction in animal models. However, its impact on LV mechanics in humans remains unknown. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effects of pirfenidone on echocardiographic parameters of LV function and structure in patients with IPF.Methods: A total of 124 patients with IPF were included in this study: 64 patients treated with pirfenidone (treatment group) and 60 patients not taking pirfenidone (control group), who had serial pretreatment/baseline and posttreatment/follow-up echocardiograms done within a time frame of four years. Changes in the means of parameters of LV function (systolic, diastolic, and global longitudinal strain) and LV structure (mass and volume indices) were compared between the treatment and control groups. This was followed by a subgroup analysis that included only 88 patients (47 treated, 41 controls) with echocardiographic evidence of myocardial dysfunction at baseline (defined as an ejection fraction of ≤45, or diastolic dysfunction stage 1 or more) in addition to a known clinical diagnosis of congestive heart failure. To account for potential confounders, a secondary adjusted analysis by way of 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was carried out. This yielded a sample consisting of 62 patients with 56 patients in the subgroup cohort.Results: Patients in the treatment group were significantly younger (69.4 vs. 77 years, p<0.001) and had relatively lower forced vital capacity (69.9% vs. 80.6%, p = 0.005) in comparison to the control group. However, after PSM, the age demographics were comparable between both groups (72.18 vs. 72.15, p = 0.9). In the primary unadjusted analysis, there was no statistically significant change in any of the mean parameters of LV function and structure after pirfenidone administration when compared to the control group. Furthermore, no significant differences were noted in the subgroup cohort. Such findings were re-demonstrated after a secondary analysis with PSM.Conclusion: From an echocardiographic perspective, pirfenidone had no significant effects on LV structure and function in patients with IPF, even in patients with more overt cardiac dysfunction.

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Hyperhomocysteinemia leads to pathological ventricular hypertrophy in normotensive rats

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00145.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 285 (2) ◽

pp. H679-H686 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Jacob Joseph ◽

Lija Joseph ◽

Nawal S. Shekhawat ◽

Sulochana Devi ◽

Junru Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Remodeling ◽

Ventricular Hypertrophy ◽

Ventricular Remodeling ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Lv Function ◽

Wall Thickening ◽

Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽

And Function

A recent report indicated that hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhe), in addition to its atherothrombotic effects, exacerbates the adverse cardiac remodeling seen in response to hypertension, a powerful stimulus for pathological ventricular hypertrophy. The present study was undertaken to determine whether Hhe has a direct effect on ventricular remodeling and function in the absence of other hypertrophic stimuli. Male Wistar-Kyoto rats were fed either an amino acid-defined control diet or an intermediate Hhe-inducing diet. After 10 wk of dietary treatment, rats were subjected to echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular (LV) dimensions and systolic function. Subsequently, blood was collected for plasma homocysteine measurements, and the rats were killed for histomorphometric and biochemical assessment of cardiac remodeling and for in vitro cardiac function studies. Significant LV hypertrophy was detected by echocardiographic measurements, and in vitro results showed hypertrophy with significantly increased myocyte size in the LV and right ventricle (RV). LV and RV remodeling was characterized by a disproportionate increase in perivascular and interstitial collagen, coronary arteriolar wall thickening, and myocardial mast cell infiltration. In vitro study of LV function demonstrated abnormal diastolic function secondary to decreased compliance because the rate of relaxation did not differ between groups. LV systolic function did not vary between groups in vitro. In summary, in the absence of other hypertrophic stimuli short-term intermediate Hhe caused pathological hypertrophy and remodeling of both ventricles with diastolic dysfunction of the LV. These results demonstrate that Hhe has direct adverse effects on cardiac structure and function, which may represent a novel direct link between Hhe and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, independent of other risk factors.

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Effect of repeated episodes of reversible myocardial ischemia on myocardial blood flow and function in humans

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00786.2001 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 282 (5) ◽

pp. H1603-H1608 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Edward Barnes ◽

David P. Dutka ◽

Masood Khan ◽

Paolo G. Camici ◽

Roger J. Hall

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Myocardial Blood Flow ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Peak Stress ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Lv Function ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Artery Disease ◽

And Function

Nine patients with coronary artery disease and normal left ventricular (LV) function underwent two episodes of dobutamine-induced ischemia to determine whether repeated episodes of ischemia lead to cumulative stunning. Positron emission tomography (PET) and oxygen 15-labeled H2O was used to assess myocardial blood flow (MBF) at baseline, peak stress, and after stress for each ischemic episode. Quantitative echocardiographic assessment of global ejection fraction (EF) and regional systolic function (SF) was performed at rest and regular intervals after dobutamine. SF was assessed for regions subtended by a coronary artery with a >70% diameter stenosis. Both EF and SF were more severely impaired 45 min after the second episode of stress compared with 45 min after the first (both P < 0.01), despite no difference in duration of the two dobutamine infusions or MBF at peak stress (1.72 vs. 1.69). After both episodes of ischemia, when LV function was impaired but subsequently recovered, MBF (1.15 ± 0.39 and 1.20 ± 0.43, respectively) was no different to baseline MBF (1.02 ± 0.35), confirming that repeated episodes of dobutamine-induced ischemia lead to cumulative myocardial stunning.

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The non-invasive assessment of myocardial work by pressure-strain analysis: clinical applications

Heart Failure Reviews ◽

10.1007/s10741-021-10119-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dawud Abawi ◽

Tommaso Rinaldi ◽

Alessandro Faragli ◽

Burkert Pieske ◽

Daniel A. Morris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systolic Function ◽

Global Longitudinal Strain ◽

Strain Analysis ◽

Response Prediction ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Cardiac Resynchronization ◽

Lv Function ◽

Current Application ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Echocardiographic Parameters

AbstractPressure–volume (PV) analysis is the most comprehensive way to describe cardiac function, giving insights into cardiac mechanics and energetics. However, PV analysis still remains a highly invasive and time-consuming method, preventing it from integration into clinical practice. Most of the echocardiographic parameters currently used in the clinical routine to characterize left ventricular (LV) systolic function, such as LV ejection fraction and LV global longitudinal strain, do not take the pressure developed within the LV into account and therefore fall too short in describing LV function as a hydraulic pump. Recently, LV pressure-strain analysis has been introduced as a new technique to assess myocardial work in a non-invasive fashion. This new method showed new insights in comparison to invasive measurements and was validated in different cardiac pathologies, e.g., for the detection of coronary artery disease, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)-response prediction, and different forms of heart failure. Non-invasively assessed myocardial work may play a major role in guiding therapies and estimating prognosis. However, its incremental prognostic validity in comparison to common echocardiographic parameters remains unclear. This review aims to provide an overview of pressure-strain analysis, including its current application in the clinical arena, as well as potential fields of exploitation.

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Catecholamines Induce Left Ventricular Subclinical Systolic Dysfunction: A Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography Study

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11030318 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 318 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jan Kvasnička ◽

Tomáš Zelinka ◽

Ondřej Petrák ◽

Ján Rosa ◽

Branislav Štrauch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Speckle Tracking ◽

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Systolic Dysfunction ◽

Global Longitudinal Strain ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Lv Function ◽

Echocardiographic Parameters ◽

Lv Systolic Function ◽

Lower Magnitude

Background: Pheochromocytomas (PHEO) are tumors arising from chromaffin cells from the adrenal medulla, having the ability to produce, metabolize and secrete catecholamines. The overproduction of catecholamines leads by many mechanisms to the impairment in the left ventricle (LV) function, however, endocardial measurement of systolic function did not find any differences between patients with PHEO and essential hypertension (EH). The aim of the study was to investigate whether global longitudinal strain (GLS) derived from speckle-tracking echocardiography can detect catecholamine-induced subclinical impairments in systolic function. Methods: We analyzed 17 patients (10 females and seven males) with PHEO and 18 patients (nine females and nine males) with EH. The groups did not differ in age or in 24-h blood pressure values. Results: The patients with PHEO did not differ in echocardiographic parameters including LV ejection fraction compared to the EH patients (0.69 ± 0.04 vs. 0.71 ± 0.05; NS), nevertheless, in spackle-tracking analysis, the patients with PHEO displayed significantly lower GLS than the EH patients (−14.8 ± 1.5 vs. −17.8 ± 1.7; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with PHEO have a lower magnitude of GLS than the patients with EH, suggesting that catecholamines induce a subclinical decline in LV systolic function.

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Effects of Isoflurane Concentration on Basic Echocardiographic Parameters of the Left Ventricle in Rats

Physiological Research ◽

10.33549/physiolres.932261 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 419-423 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

H. ŘÍHA ◽

F. PAPOUŠEK ◽

J. NECKÁŘ ◽

J. PIRK ◽

B. OŠŤÁDAL

Keyword(s):

Systolic Function ◽

Animal Experiments ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Isoflurane Concentration ◽

Anesthetic Agents ◽

Male Wistar Rats ◽

Echocardiographic Parameters ◽

Echocardiographic Images ◽

And Function ◽

Fractional Shortening

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has become an important modality for the assessment of cardiac structure and function in animal experiments. The acquisition of echocardiographic images in rats requires sedation/anesthesia to keep the rats immobile. Commonly used anesthetic regimens include intraperitoneal or inhalational application of various anesthetics. Several studies have compared the effects of anesthetic agents on echocardiographic parameters in rats; however, none of them examined the effects of different concentrations of inhalational anesthetics on echocardiographic parameters. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of different concentrations of isoflurane used for anesthesia during TTE examination in rats on basic echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular (LV) anatomy and systolic function. TTE examinations were performed in adult male Wistar rats (n=10) anesthetized with isoflurane at concentrations of 1.5-3 %. Standard echocardiograms were recorded for off-line analysis. An absence of changes in basic echocardiographic parameters of LV anatomy and systolic function was found under isoflurane anesthesia using concentrations between 1.5-2.5 %. An isoflurane concentration of 3 % caused a small, but statistically significant, increase in LV chamber dimensions without a concomitant change in heart rate or fractional shortening. For the purpose of TTE examination in the rat, our results suggest that isoflurane concentrations ≤ 2.5 % can be safely recommended.

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Exercise attenuates inflammation and limits scar thinning after myocardial infarction in mice

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00683.2014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 309 (2) ◽

pp. H345-H359 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Sarah-Lena Puhl ◽

Andreas Müller ◽

Michael Wagner ◽

Yvan Devaux ◽

Michael Böhm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Heart Weight ◽

Lv Function ◽

Sham Operation ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

End Diastolic Volume ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

And Function

Although exercise mediates beneficial effects in patients after myocardial infarction (MI), the underlying mechanisms as well as the question of whether an early start of exercise after MI is safe or even beneficial are incompletely resolved. The present study analyzed the effects of exercise before and reinitiated early after MI on cardiac remodeling and function. Male C57BL/6N mice were housed sedentary or with the opportunity to voluntarily exercise for 6 wk before MI induction (ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery) or sham operation. After a 5-day exercise-free phase after MI, mice were allowed to reexercise for another 4 wk. Exercise before MI induced adaptive hypertrophy with moderate increases in heart weight, cardiomyocyte diameter, and left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume, but without fibrosis. In sedentary mice, MI induced eccentric LV hypertrophy with massive fibrosis but maintained systolic LV function. While in exercised mice gross LV end-diastolic volumes and systolic function did not differ from sedentary mice after MI, LV collagen content and thinning of the infarcted area were reduced. This was associated with ameliorated activation of inflammation, mediated by TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as reduced activation of matrix metalloproteinase 9. In contrast, no differences in the activation patterns of various MAPKs or adenosine receptor expressions were observed 5 wk after MI in sedentary or exercised mice. In conclusion, continuous exercise training before and with an early reonset after MI ameliorates adverse LV remodeling by attenuating inflammation, fibrosis, and scar thinning. Therefore, an early reonset of exercise after MI can be encouraged.

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Myocardial deformation in patients with a single left ventricle using 2D cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking: a case–control study

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1007/s10554-021-02230-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fabian Strodka ◽

Jana Logoteta ◽

Roman Schuwerk ◽

Mona Salehi Ravesh ◽

Dominik Daniel Gabbert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Left Ventricle ◽

Feature Tracking ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Radial Strain ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Lv Function ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Lv Volumes

AbstractVentricular dysfunction is a well-known complication in single ventricle patients in Fontan circulation. As studies exclusively examining patients with a single left ventricle (SLV) are sparse, we assessed left ventricular (LV) function in SLV patients by using 2D-cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (2D-CMR-FT) and 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). 54 SLV patients (11.4, 3.1–38.1 years) and 35 age-matched controls (12.3, 6.3–25.8 years) were included. LV global longitudinal, circumferential and radial strain (GLS, GCS, GRS) and strain rate (GLSR, GCSR, GRSR) were measured using 2D-CMR-FT. LV volumes, ejection fraction (LVEF) and mass were determined from short axis images. 2D-STE was applied in patients to measure peak systolic GLS and GLSR. In a subgroup analysis, we compared double inlet left ventricle (DILV) with tricuspid atresia (TA) patients. The population consisted of 19 DILV patients, 24 TA patients and 11 patients with diverse diagnoses. 52 patients were in NYHA class I and 2 patients were in class II. Most SLV patients had a normal systolic function but median LVEF in patients was lower compared to controls (55.6% vs. 61.2%, p = 0.0001). 2D-CMR-FT demonstrated reduced GLS, GCS and GCSR values in patients compared to controls. LVEF correlated with GS values in patients (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between GLS values from 2D-CMR-FT and 2D-STE in the patient group. LVEF, LV volumes, GS and GSR (from 2D-CMR-FT) were not significantly different between DILV and TA patients. Although most SLV patients had a preserved EF derived by CMR, our results suggest that, LV deformation and function may behave differently in SLV patients compared to healthy subjects.

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Prognostic value of NT-proBNP for myocardial recovery in peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM)

Clinical Research in Cardiology ◽

10.1007/s00392-021-01808-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

J. Hoevelmann ◽

E. Muller ◽

F. Azibani ◽

S. Kraus ◽

J. Cirota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prognostic Value ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy ◽

Lv Function ◽

Myocardial Recovery ◽

End Diastolic Volume

Abstract Introduction Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an important cause of pregnancy-associated heart failure worldwide. Although a significant number of women recover their left ventricular (LV) function within 12 months, some remain with persistently reduced systolic function. Methods Knowledge gaps exist on predictors of myocardial recovery in PPCM. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is the only clinically established biomarker with diagnostic value in PPCM. We aimed to establish whether NT-proBNP could serve as a predictor of LV recovery in PPCM, as measured by LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDD) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Results This study of 35 women with PPCM (mean age 30.0 ± 5.9 years) had a median NT-proBNP of 834.7 pg/ml (IQR 571.2–1840.5) at baseline. Within the first year of follow-up, 51.4% of the cohort recovered their LV dimensions (LVEDD < 55 mm) and systolic function (LVEF > 50%). Women without LV recovery presented with higher NT-proBNP at baseline. Multivariable regression analyses demonstrated that NT-proBNP of ≥ 900 pg/ml at the time of diagnosis was predictive of failure to recover LVEDD (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.05–0.95, P = 0.043) or LVEF (OR 0.20 [95% CI 0.04–0.89], p = 0.035) at follow-up. Conclusions We have demonstrated that NT-proBNP has a prognostic value in predicting LV recovery of patients with PPCM. Patients with NT-proBNP of ≥ 900 pg/ml were less likely to show any improvement in LVEF or LVEDD. Our findings have implications for clinical practice as patients with higher NT-proBNP might require more aggressive therapy and more intensive follow-up. Point-of-care NT-proBNP for diagnosis and risk stratification warrants further investigation.

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