Alteration of Pregnant Women Heart Mechanics Assessed by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography During Pregnancy
Ali Karagöz, Onur Taşar, Şeyhmus Külahçıoğlu, Bünyamin Şan, Arzu Kalaycı, Tahir Bezgi̇n, Gönenç Kocabay, İbrahim Akın İzgi̇, Cevat Kırma
Keywords: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, strain, pregnancy
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate left ventricular myocardial mechanics using 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) during normal, uncomplicated pregancy and postpartum term. Patients and Methods: In this prospective, longitudinal study, 86 healthy pregnant women who underwent serial 2 dimensional echocardiographic evaluation during each trimester (trimester one 8-12 weeks; trimester two 20-24 weeks, trimester three 32-36 weeks, and postpartum 10-14 weeks). Two-dimensional STE was performed to measure global left ventricular longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain (GLS, GCS, and GRS, respectively). Results: GLS showed a decrease during pregnancy (for first trimester 21.0 ± 2.1%; for second trimester 19.9 ± 1.8%; for third trimester 18.2 ± 2.1; for postpartum 19.1 ± 1.4, p< 0.001). GCS was significantly reduced during pregnancy (p= 0.033) and peaked as the same value in the first trimester. GRS remained unchanged throughout the pregnancy and labor (p= 0.033). Conclusion: This study gives normal ranges of 2D indices in pregnancy. 2D STE demonstrated that LV longitudinal and circumferantial strain are significantly reduced, whereas radial strain remained unchanged.