PURPOSE: As cardiomyopathy is more prevalent and currently the leading cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), early detection of myocardial involvement is important. The purpose of this study was to analyze myocardial strain in DMD children, for the possibility of early detection of myocardial dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records of DMD patients who were >10 years of age (15.6±1.6 years, 12.5-18 years), from March 2013 to June 2014. Data of 24 DMD children who underwent echocardiography with three-layer specific myocardial strain were compared with 24 controls (age: 9.3±4.0 years, 5.5-17 years). RESULTS: Epicardial longitudinal strain was lower in DMD (DMD: -9.3±3.8%; control: -12.3±4.3%; p=0.012). Radial strain (DMD: 24.1±11.1%; control: 37.3±25.9%; p=0.027) and strain rate (SR) (DMD: 1.68±0.91; control: 2.42±0.84; p=0.006) on parasternal short axis view were lower in DMD. Circumferential strains in the endocardium (DMD: -17.5±4.7%; control: -24.2±5.3%; p<0.001), myocardium (DMD: -12.7±3.8%; control: -18.0±4.0%; p<0.001), and epicardium (DMD: -8.4±4.0%; control: -12.2±5.0%; p=0.006) were significantly decreased in DMD. Circumferential SRs were lower in the endocardial (DMD: -1.46±0.38; control: -1.78±0.27; p=0.002) and myocardial layers (DMD: 1.02±0.27; control: -1.28±0.22; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: In DMD patients, deteriorations in myocardial circumferential strain might be an indicator for predicting cardiomyopathy.
Adolescent ; Cardiomyopathies/*diagnostic imaging/*etiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Early Diagnosis ; *Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/*complications/*diagnostic imaging ; Predictive Value of Tests

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the left ventricular systolic asynchrony in patients with uremic myocardiopathy (UM) using tissue synchronization imaging (TSI).

METHODSUltrasound system with TSI and Q-analyze software were used. Thirty-five patients with UM were enrolled in the study,and thirty normal subjects were included as the control group.

RESULTThe total and mean time to peak velocity (Tc) corrected by the heart rate of all segments in UM group were longer than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the time to peak velocity of most segments in UM group was also longer (P<0.05). Delayed time to peak velocity was found in 175 (175/420) segments in UM group and left ventricular systolic asynchrony was detected in 65.7% (23/35).

CONCLUSIONTSI can detect the ventricular systolic asynchrony in patients with uremic myocardiopathy and provide reliable parameters for clinical management.

Adult ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Systole ; physiology ; Uremia ; complications ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology

Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Bisoprolol ; therapeutic use ; Cardiomyopathies ; chemically induced ; etiology ; Cardiotonic Agents ; adverse effects ; Chest Pain ; diagnostic imaging ; Dobutamine ; adverse effects ; Echocardiography, Stress ; adverse effects ; Enalapril ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Simvastatin ; therapeutic use