Mechanical properties of the aorta by speckle-tracking echocardiography

Abstract

Background: We hypothesized that speckle-tracking echocardiography can help to evaluate mechanical properties of the ascending aorta – strain and motion. It should be important in patients with dilated aorta who are at increased risk for aortic rupture. Aim of the study was to find differences in longitudinal strain, longitudinal and transversal displacement of anterior and posterior aortic walls in patients with aortic dilatation. Methods: We investigated 12 patients with dilated ascending aorta and moderate to severe aortic regurgitation and 14 controls with with protective angiotensin-converting enzyme and matrix metalloproteinase-3 genotypes on dilatative aorta pathology (1). All patients underwent standard transthoracic echocardiographic study and aortic strain analysis was performed off-line using commercially available 2D strain software. The longitudinal strain, transversal and longitudinal displacement of anterior and posterior wall of theaorta werecalculated as strain, displacement average of sinusesandascending aorta. Results:Patients with aortic dilatation were younger 49.0+21.7y vs 65.7+7,0y,p=0.04. Aortic diameters at sinuses (47.90+8.45mm vs 34.0+3.71mm, p,0.05) and ascending aorta (43.0+7.62mm vs 31.64+2.56 mm, p,0.05) were significantly higher in patients group.We found increased longitudinal strain in inferior aortic wall compared to controls (32.39+16.06% vs 13.9+10.4%, p=0.02). Other mechanical parameters did not differ significantly. Correlation analysis in all investigated persons showed significant relationship between strains and displacements. (1 table). Conclusions: Speckle-tracking echocardiography can be applied in evaluation of aortic mechanics. Further investigations with more patients are necessary to find more differences in aortic strain and motion in ascending aorta pathology.[...].