2007 Volume 71 Issue 4 Pages 517-523
Background The relationship between regional and global left ventricular function has not been evaluated. The present study aimed to assess whether regional myocardial contraction and relaxation reflect global left ventricular systolic and early diastolic function, respectively. Methods and Results The study involved 45 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Conventional echocardiography was performed, and segmental peak strain rate (SR) in the systole (SSR) and early diastole (ESR) were obtained from tissue Doppler imaging in each of 18 segments of the left ventricular myocardium from the apical views. The ESR was significantly correlated with SSR in all studied segments (r=0.55, p<0.0001). The average values of SR indices in each patient were defined as SSR index and ESR index, which were derived by dividing the summed value of the SSR or ESR by the number of respective assessable segments. A significant positive relationship was observed between the SSR index and left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.85, p<0.0001). Also, there was a positive correlation between the ESR index and mitral flow E (r=0.68, p<0.0001). Conclusions Regional myocardial contraction and relaxation, as assessed by SR imaging, were closely related in patients with CAD. Furthermore, regional myocardial contraction and relaxation are important factors affecting global left ventricular systolic and early diastolic function. (Circ J 2007; 71: 517 - 523)
