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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 29  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 412-417

Apical rotation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction


Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Menoufia University Hospitals, Menoufia University, Shebin El Kom, Egypt

Date of Submission03-Feb-2014
Date of Acceptance01-Apr-2015
Date of Web Publication18-Oct-2016

Correspondence Address:
Luther S Amen
Nag-Hammadi, Quena Governorate, 83749
Egypt
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/1110-2098.192439

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  Abstract 

Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess apical rotation in patients with anterior and inferior myocardial infarction (MI) by speckle-tracking echocardiography.
Background:
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the most widely used index of left ventricular (LV) systolic function. However, the development of wall-motion abnormalities after acute MI significantly decreases the accuracy of LVEF; further, calculation of LV volume by the biplane Simpson method is inaccurate, because it depends on geometric assumptions. Recently, two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging has facilitated noninvasive measurement of LV strain and rotation.
Patients and methods:
The present study enrolled 54 patients with anterior or inferior MI, in addition to 20 healthy volunteers (matched for age and sex) as the control group. Basal and apical LV short-axis images were acquired for further off-line analysis. Using commercially available two-dimensional strain software, apical, basal rotation, and LV torsion were calculated.
Results:
Apical rotation was significantly reduced in the patient group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Consequently, torsion degree (P < 0.001), torsion rate, and untwisting rate (P = 0.007) were significantly reduced.
Conclusion:
There was a significant correlation between ejection fraction and apex rotation (r = 0.466, P = 0.044), torsion degree (r = 0.499, P = 0.03), and untwisting rate (r = −0.543, P < 0.001).
Correlation with basal rotation was nonsignificant, and thus measurement of apical rotation alone (rather than calculation of LV torsion) might provide a simple and accurate alternative for assessment of LV contractility.
No difference was found between anterior and inferior MI as regards torsion (P = 0.870).
Apical rotation and torsion were decreased in ST-elevation MI, and this was statistically significant in patients with LV dysfunction.

Keywords: apical rotations, ejection fraction, myocardial infarction, speckle-tracking echocardiography, torsion


How to cite this article:
Soliman MA, Mena MB, Amen LS. Apical rotation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Menoufia Med J 2016;29:412-7

How to cite this URL:
Soliman MA, Mena MB, Amen LS. Apical rotation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Menoufia Med J [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 28];29:412-7. Available from: http://www.mmj.eg.net/text.asp?2016/29/2/412/192439


  Introduction Top
The complex architecture of left ventricular (LV) myocardial fibers is a vital contributor to normal LV performance [1]. Contraction of obliquely oriented myocardial fibers leads to a systolic wringing motion of the LV as a result of the opposing rotation of the apex and the base. Myocardial fiber orientation in the LV wall changes from a left-handed helix in the subepicardium to a right-handed helix in the subendocardium [2],[3],[4],[5]. Contraction of these obliquely oriented fibers creates a wringing or twisting motion of the LV. Speckle tracking is a simple echocardiographic method for assessing LV strain, rotation, and twist. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is an angle-independent technique that allows an accurate assessment of segmental myocardial deformation. The lack of angle dependency is of great advantage because myocardial strain (ε) could be tracked in two-dimensional echo imaging along the direction of the wall instead of along the ultrasound beam [6]. Torsion can be measured by rotation data in basal and apical short-axis views. Myocardial infarction (MI) is accompanied with regional wall-motion abnormalities in the LV apex, because LV torsion is predominantly generated from apical rotation so that LV torsion might be depressed. The LV untwisting begins before aortic valve closure and before longitudinal and radial expansion [7]. Because it is one of the earliest events leading to LV filling, untwisting might be a critical determinant of early diastolic function. The quantification of LV untwisting might provide novel insights into diastolic function [8],[9]. The aim of the work was to assess apical rotation in acute ST-elevation MI.
  Patients and Methods Top
The present study included 74 individuals who were divided into two groups:
  1. Group I (the patient group): This group included 54 MI patients, including 19 patients with LV dysfunction [ejection fraction (EF) <50%] and 35 patients with normal LV function. Thirty-eight patients had anterior MI and 16 patients had inferior MI.
  2. Group II: This group included 20 healthy age-matched and sex-matched volunteers apparently free from cardiovascular risk factors.
Inclusion criteria included an incidence of first acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with or without LV dysfunction. All patients were treated with thrombolysis (except three patients, in whom no reperfusion therapy was carried out). Exclusion criteria included incidences of significant valvular disease, pericardial diseases, congenital heart disease, or advanced renal or hepatic disease, and previous coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous coronary intervention. Participants in the study were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, 12-lead ECG, two-dimensional echocardiography, M-mode, and Doppler examination. Apical rotation, basal rotation, torsion degree, torsion rate, and untwisting rate were calculated ([Figure 1] and [Figure 2]). LV rotation and torsion were assessed by acquisition of specific short-axis planes with internal landmarks: the basal plane was acquired at the level of the mitral valve leaflets while excluding the mitral annulus, and the apical plane was acquired distally to the papillary muscles [0]. Every effort was made to make the LV cross-section as circular as possible. The frame rate range was 65–80/s. In each phase, the cineloop images of three consecutive cardiac cycles were stored for off-line analysis with a dedicated platform EchoPac PC (EchoPac PC, version 1.8.1.X; GE Healthcare, Chicago, United States).
Figure 1: Torsion degree in a myocardial infarction patient (patient 34) showing reduction in apical rotation and torsion degree

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Figure 2: Torsion rate and untwisting rate in a myocardial infarction patient (patient 34) showing decrease in untwisting rate

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Statistical analysis Data were collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed with an IBM compatible personal computer with SPSS statistical package (version 17; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive statistics This included percentage, mean (X), and SD. Analytical statistics These were ascertained using the χ2-test, Student's t-test, and analysis of variance (F), with a level of significance as follows: P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant, P-values less than 0.001 were considered highly significant, and P-values greater than 0.05 were considered nonsignificant [1].
  Results Top
Regarding age and sex, there were no significant differences between the studied groups ([Table 1]).
Table 1: Distribution of demographic data

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Regarding conventional echocardiographic parameters, there were significant differences between group I (patients) and group II (control) as regards EF (P < 0.001), fractional shortening, left atrium dimension, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, interventricular septum dimension in diastole, end-systolic volume, peak E velocity, and E/A ratio (P < 0.05) ([Table 2]).
Table 2: Comparison between the study groups by conventional echocardiography

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Apical rotation was significantly reduced in the patient group compared with the control group (P<0.001). Consequently, torsion degree (P<0.001), torsion rate, and untwisting rate (P = 0.007) are significantly changed ([Figure 3] and [Table 3]).
Table 3: Comparison between patients and controls as regards rotation and rotation rate

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Figure 3: Comparison between study groups regarding apex rotation, basal rotation, and torsion degree

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No difference was found between anterior and inferior MI as regards torsion (P = 0.870) ([Table 4]).
Table 4: Comparison between anterior and inferior myocardial infarction

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In patients with LV dysfunction, significant correlation was found between EF and apex rotation (r = 0.466, P = 0.044), torsion degree (r = 0.499, P = 0.03), and untwisting rate (r = −0.543, P<0.001). Correlation of EF with basal rotation was nonsignificant, and thus measurement of apical rotation alone (rather than calculation of LV torsion) might provide a simple and accurate alternative for assessment of LV contractility ([Table 5]).
Table 5: Correlation between ejection fraction and fractional shortening and rotation in patients with ejection fraction less than 50%

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  Discussion Top
We studied apical rotation measured using non-Doppler two-dimensional speckle tracking in 54 MI patients, and in the age-matched and sex-matched control group (20 individuals). The present study showed reduction in apical rotation in MI. Apical rotation was not only significantly lower in AMI compared with controls (6.128 ± 4.059 vs. 12.981 ± 6.236, P<0.001), but it was also lower in individuals with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 50% (5.889 ± 3.707), compared with those who had LVEF more than 50% (6.368 ± 4.442, P = 0.668). These results are similar to previous studies that used an optical device and tagged MRI to quantify apical motion [5],[12],[13]. LV systolic dysfunction in patients with MI was mainly attributed to transmural infarction resulting in severe reduction of circumferential strain in the apex. These severe impairments of apical strain cannot generate sufficient apical rotational movement, which is the main determinant of LV systolic twist. Reduction of torsion and apical rotation were more marked in patients with LV dysfunction than in patients with EF more than 50%. This is a result of the mild reduction of circumferential strain in the apex that may affect LV twist behavior in a mild manner in patients with EF more than 50%. Normal LV systolic function associated with MI is usually the result of a small subendocardial infarction with preserved epicardial function. Thus, another possibility is that these counteracting forces, generated by the subendocardial layer against the subepicardial layer, decrease in the setting of subendocardial dysfunction, resulting in sufficient subepicardial fiber torque to drive torsional deformation toward positive angles. LVEF is currently the most widely used index of LV systolic function. However, it should be noted that the development of wall-motion abnormalities after AMI significantly decreases the accuracy of LVEF. Thus, LV apical rotation could provide a more accurate measurement of LV performance compared with LVEF. These observations suggest that apical rotation can serve as a marker of LV contractility and that its measurement using STE alone provides a noninvasive assessment of global LV function. If so, this technique is promising for use in routine clinical practice. Apical rotation is highly sensitive to ischemia and becomes abnormal within a few seconds after coronary ligation or balloon occlusion [4]. This was further confirmed by Nagel et al. [5], who investigated cardiac rotation in patients with anterolateral MI. In these patients, there was less systolic rotation at the apex in comparison with controls. The same was reported recently by Takeuchi et al. [6], who used STE for LV torsion analysis in patients with anterior MI. The present study showed reduction in torsion degree in MI. This abnormality can be predominantly attributed to reduced apical rotation. Peak systolic torsion was not only significantly lower in AMI compared with controls (P<0.001), but it was also lower in individuals with LVEF less than 50% compared with those who had LVEF more than 50%. This relationship between torsion and low EF in those with prior MI was confirmed by Govind et al. [7]. Peak systolic torsion was not only significantly lower in AMI compared with controls (P<0.01), but it was also lower in individuals with LVEF less than 40% compared with those who had LVEF more than 40% (P<0.02). The present study showed that torsion had a significantly positive linear relation (r = 0.499, P = 0.30) with LVEF in individuals with LVEF less than 50%. Garot et al. [8] investigated systolic twist angles in patients after acute anterior MI, and in a control group. Myocardial ischemia caused a decrease in LV twist angles in patients with respect to controls, which was related to global LV function. The same was observed by Buchalter et al. [2]. This was in agreement with the results of Nucifora et al. [9], who studied a total of 120 patients with a first ST-segment elevation AMI. Compared with control individuals, the peak LV torsion in AMI patients was significantly impaired. The present study showed that apical and basal rotation responded differently to AMI. Apical rotation showed clear changes, whereas basal rotation exhibited no significant alterations. LVEF was correlated significantly with apical rotational parameters, whereas correlations with basal parameters were nonsignificant. Because assessment of rotation by STE is less accurate for the basal level than for the apical level, measurement of apical rotation alone (rather than calculation of LV torsion) might provide a simple and accurate alternative for assessment of LV contractility. These results agree with those of previous studies [13],[20] and with the study by Toumanidis et al. [0] (LV apical rotation: 3.68 ± 1.73° pre-AMI vs. 2.19 ± 1.64° post-AMI, P < 0.009). The LV global torsion decreased significantly. Strain and rotational changes of the LV apex were primarily correlated with EF, but those of the LV base were not. EF had a significant correlation with the global LV twist (r = 0.31, P<0.05). In the present study there was no difference between anterior and inferior MI as regards torsion (P = 0.87). In the study by Bansal et al. [1] there was no difference in global LV systolic torsion in patients with anteroapical or inferoposterior infarcts (1.81 ± 1.13 vs. 2.27 ± 1.18°/cm, P = NS), and no differences in regional torsion. Torsion was most impaired in patients with multiple areas of infarction (1.03 ± 0.89°/cm, P < 0.01). Apical rotation is mostly decreased after large anterior MI [2]. The present study did not assess the size of infarction and this explains why there was no difference between anterior and inferior MI as regards apical rotation (P = 0.426).
  Conclusion Top
Apical rotation and torsion were decreased and diastolic untwisting was depressed in ST-elevation MI, and this was statistically significant in patients with LV dysfunction. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.[22]

 
  References Top

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    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]
 
 
    Tables

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