Application of quantitative tissue velocity in evaluation of regional function of left ventricle in patients with essential hypertension

AIM: To evaluate the regional myocardial function of left ventricle in patients with essential hypertension using quantitative tissue velocity imaging technique. METHODS: Forty patients with essential hypertension including 14 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and 26 patients without left ventricular hypertrophy (NLVH) and 30 normal control subjects were included in the study. Longitudinal muscular peak tissues velocity (VS, VE, VA) during systole and early diastole and VE/VA of left ventricular wall were measured on cardiac apex fourth-chamber view, two-chamber view and long-axis view. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in Vs of walls in LVH group and NLVH group compared with control group. VE of posterior interventricular septum (PS), posterior wall (PW), anterior interventricular septum (AS) and inferior wall (IW) in NLVH group was significant lower than in control group (P<0.05). Except for that of the lateral wall of the left ventricle (LW), VE of other walls in the LVH group showed significantly differences compared with control group (P<0.05). VA of PS in NLVH group was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). VA of all walls in LVH group was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). Except for that of the lateral wall of the left ventricle (LW), VE/VA of other walls in the NLVH group showed significant differences compared with control group (P<0.05). Significant difference was found in all walls between LVH group and control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Quantitative tissue velocity imaging offers objective and accurate evaluation of myocardial movement functions in patients with essential hypertension.