The Use of Myocardial Deformation Imaging

Myocardial deformation imaging allows analysis of myocardial viability in ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. This study will evaluate the predictive value of myocardial deformation imaging for improvement in cardiac function after revascularization therapy in comparison to contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI). In 55 patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction, myocardial viability was assessed using pixel-tracking-derived myocardial deformation imaging and ceMRI to predict recovery of function at 9±2 months follow-up. For each left ventricular segment in a 16-segment model peak systolic radial strain will be determined from parasternal 2D echocardiographic views and the amount of late hyperenhancement (LE) and maximal thickness of myocardial tissue without LE using ceMRI. The hypothesis is that compared with segments showing functional improvement, those that failed to recover had lower radial strain and lower thickness without LE and higher LE.