Health-e-Child Project: Mechanical Dyssynchrony in Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Objective

Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony has been poorly studied in the pediatric population with dilated cardiomyopathy. We investigated the degree of dyssynchrony in children with dilated cardiomyopathy using tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain.

Methods

Twenty-five children with dilated cardiomyopathy were compared with healthy subjects. Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony was assessed by speckle tracking strain and tissue Doppler imaging. Both radial and longitudinal dyssynchrony were analyzed. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was measured to assess the relation between dyssynchrony and ventricular function and remodeling.

Results

Radial and longitudinal dyssynchrony parameters were significantly higher in the dilated cardiomyopathy group and correlated with Z-score left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. A logarithmic correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter parameters was found.

Conclusion

In children with dilated cardiomyopathy, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain allowed the detection of dyssynchrony, which correlates with the severity of left ventricular function.

Keywords: Children, Dilated cardiomyopathy, Mechanical dyssynchrony, 2-dimensional speckle strain