OBJECTIVETo assess left ventricular systolic synchronicity by quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) in patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).

METHODSEighteen LVNC patients and 30 healthy controls were included. Two-dimensional echocardiography, QTVI was applied on parasternal long axis view, apical two-chamber and four-chamber view. Tissue velocity curve was obtained from the middle and basal segments of left ventricular posterior, lateral, septal, anterior, inferior and anteroseptal walls. Time interval from the beginning of QRS complex to the peak systolic velocity (Q-Ts) and the maximal difference in Ts among all 12 LV segments (Max-DeltaTs) was calculated.

RESULTSQ-Ts from basal and middle segments of left ventricular inferior, lateral and posterior walls was significantly prolonged in LVNC patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). Max-DeltaTs was also significantly increased in LVNC patients [(161.9 +/- 93.2) ms] than that in controls [(61.2 +/- 27.4) ms, P < 0.001].

CONCLUSIONSThere was significant left ventricular asynchronies in patients with LVNC and delayed systolic contraction occurred mostly in the basal and middle segments of left ventricular inferior, posterior and lateral walls.