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Tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate measurements assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in healthy newborns and infants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2013

Ozlem Elkiran*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
Cemsit Karakurt
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
Gulendam Kocak
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, İstanbul, Turkey
Ahmet Karadag
Affiliation:
Department of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
*
Correspondence to: Dr O. Elkiran MD, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya 42200, Turkey. Tel: +90-422-3410660-5309; Fax: +90-422-3410728; E-mail: ozlemelkiran@yahoo.com

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate cardiac maturational and haemodynamic alteration in healthy newborns and infants and determine reference values in this period using tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate echocardiography.

Material and Methods

The study included 149 healthy subjects. Babies from 1 day to 3 months were selected from the well-baby nursery department, and infants were selected from paediatric clinics during routine visits for health maintenance. Subjects were allocated to four groups: preterm (36–37 weeks, n = 32), term (≥38 weeks, n = 32), 1 month of age (n = 47), and 3 months of age (n = 38). Standard echocardiographic evaluations, pulsed wave Doppler, tissue Doppler echocardiography, strain, and strain rate studies were applied by the same person using a MyLab50 echo machine. Longitudinal and circumferential systolic strain and strain rate measurements were assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in all subjects.

Results

The longitudinal systolic velocity, strain, and strain rate values derived from left ventricle apical four-, three-, and two-chamber images, and circumferential systolic velocity, strain, and strain rate values derived from left ventricle short-axis images decreased from the base to the apex in all subjects (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Significant cardiac haemodynamic alterations occurred during the newborn and early infancy periods and were detected by tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate echocardiography. Although two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography is useful and can produce improved, reliable results in clinical practice, it has some limitations. Therefore, more studies on this issue are required.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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