Evaluation of myocardial functions in pregnant women with speckle-tracking echocardiography

Özet

Objectives: The speckle-tracking technique calculates the regional rate, the strain and the strain rate from twodimensional gray-scale visualizations. The aim of this study was to evaluate with speckle-trackingechocardiography the effects of the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy on cardiac functions.Methods: One hundred five voluntary pregnant and 35 healthy women of reproductive age were included inthe study. For echocardiographic evaluations, the 111 highest-quality visualizations were chosen: 24 cases inthe first trimester, 31 cases in the second trimester, 32 cases in the third trimester and 24 healthy women as acontrol group. Global longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain, and left ventricular (LV) rotation andtwist were evaluated by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.Results: During pregnancy, the diameter, and volume of the left atrium, LV stroke volume, and the heart ratesignificantly increased beginning in the first trimester (p < 0.0125). The parameters of pulse-Doppler E velocityand tissue Doppler Em velocity significantly increased in the first trimester (p < 0.0125), whereas in the secondand third trimester they decreased to control levels. Global longitudinal strain was significantly decreased inthe third trimester of the pregnancy (p < 0.0125). Basal and apical LV rotation and twist were significantlyincreased in the third trimester of pregnancy (p < 0.0125). LV apical and basal reverse rotation rate weresignificantly increased in the first trimester of pregnancy (p < 0.0125).Conclusions: In the third trimester global longitudinal strain decreased whereas LV rotation and twist increased.Speckle-tracking echocardiography may be used to evaluate the effects of pregnancy and that provide furtherdata on cardiac functions.