New Non-invasive Methods for Quantification of Regional and Global Myocardial Function in the Normal and Ischemic Left Ventricle

Abstract

Optimal handling strategies for patients with suspected or established cardiac disease require non-invasive methods for assessment of the extent and mechanism of LV dysfunction. Although current volumetric and wall motion indices by echocardiography, cardiac MRI or MDCT are useful, additional quantitative and sensitive methods for assessment of myocardial mechanics are needed. Functional analysis is of particular importance in the setting of myocardial ischemia, the most common cause of LV dysfunction. In the present Thesis we introduce and validate LV rotation and strain by STE, and radial strain mapping by multimodality tissue tracking MDCT, as new non-invasive methods for quantitative assessment of the magnitude and timing of regional and global LV deformation. By detailed analysis of regional strain and rotation in the infarcted LV, we demonstrate how ischemic and non-ischemic myocardium affects regional and global deformation indices and how these novel methods can be applied in a clinical setting.