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BMC veterinary research2020; 16(1); 93; doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02307-5

Assessment of left ventricular function in horses with aortic regurgitation by 2D speckle tracking.

Abstract: Aortic regurgitation (AR) may lead to left ventricular (LV) dilatation, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. Close follow-up of horses with AR is therefore paramount to detect onset of cardiac decompensation. The aim of this study was to examine whether two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) can be used to detect altered myocardial function in horses with chronic AR compared to control horses. Speckle tracking was performed on short axis and long axis images of the LV in 29 healthy Warmblood horses and 57 Warmblood horses with AR. Radial, circumferential and longitudinal strain, strain rate and displacement were measured for each segment separately and the average was calculated over all segments. Data generated from the apical segments were not included in the analysis. Results: Radial (SR) and circumferential (SC) strain were significantly higher in horses with moderate AR (average SR 75.5 ± 24.3%, SC 19.3 ± 3.2%) but not in horses with severe AR (SR 65.5 ± 26.2%, SC 16.3 ± 3.5%), compared to control horses (SR 54.5 ± 18.0%, SC 16.8 ± 3.0%). Longitudinal strain did not show significant differences, but longitudinal displacement (DL) was larger in horses with moderate (average DL 29.5 ± 4.1 cm) and severe AR (DL 32.4 ± 6.1 cm) compared to control horses (DL 25.7 ± 4.0 cm), especially in the interventricular septum. Diastolic longitudinal strain rate was lower in early diastole in horses with severe AR (0.93 ± 0.18/s) compared to controls (1.13 ± 0.13/s). Conclusions: 2DST is able to detect altered myocardial motion in horses with AR, which showed significantly higher radial and circumferential strain. Further research is needed to determine whether these findings contribute to a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis in clinical cases.
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Publication Date: 2020-03-20 PubMed ID: 32197611PubMed Central: PMC7085189DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02307-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Observational Study
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates whether two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) can be used to assess changes in heart function in horses with a chronic heart condition called aortic regurgitation (AR). It compared healthy horses to those with AR and found that horses with AR demonstrated significantly higher radial and circumferential strain, implying that 2DST could be a useful tool in diagnosing and monitoring the condition.

Objective of the Study

  • The aim of the study was to determine if two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) could be used to detect alterations in myocardial function, otherwise referred to as the muscular wall of the heart, in horses with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR).

Methodology

  • A comparison was made between 29 healthy Warmblood horses and 57 Warmblood horses that suffer from AR.
  • The method used for comparison was 2DST which involves monitoring the motion of patterns, of speckles, in ultrasound images over time.
  • This technique allowed them to measure radial, circumferential and longitudinal strain, strain rates, as well as displacement along the short axis and long axis images of the left ventricle (LV).
  • Data derived from the apical segments was not used in the analysis.

Results of the Analysis

  • Horses with moderate AR demonstrated significantly higher radial and circumferential strain, but the same was not true for horses with severe AR, in comparison to control horses.
  • No significant differences were observed in the longitudinal strain; however, the longitudinal displacement was larger in AR-affected horses, especially in the interventricular septum.
  • Diastolic longitudinal strain rate was lower in horses with severe AR in early diastole compared to control horses.

Conclusion

  • The study found that 2DST was able to detect altered myocardial motion in horses with AR.
  • This suggests that the technique could potentially be used for more accurate diagnosis and prognosis of horses with AR in future.
  • However, it was noted that further research is necessary to confirm these findings.

Cite This Article

APA
Decloedt A, Ven S, De Clercq D, Rademakers F, van Loon G. (2020). Assessment of left ventricular function in horses with aortic regurgitation by 2D speckle tracking. BMC Vet Res, 16(1), 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02307-5

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Pages: 93
PII: 93

Researcher Affiliations

Decloedt, A
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Annelies.Decloedt@ugent.be.
Ven, S
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
De Clercq, D
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Rademakers, F
  • Division of Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
van Loon, G
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / veterinary
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Echocardiography / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Ventricular Function, Left

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Gehlen H, Fisch J, Merle R, Trachsel DS. Preliminary study on the effects of pergolide on left ventricular function in the horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. J Vet Sci 2021 Sep;22(5):e64.
    doi: 10.4142/jvs.2021.22.e64pubmed: 34553515google scholar: lookup
  2. Dufourni A, Demeyere M, Vernemmen I, Van Steenkiste G, Verhaeghe LM, van Loon G, Decloedt A. Effect of N-Butylscopolammonium Bromide and Metamizol Sodium on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Echocardiographic Measurements in Warmblood Horses With Aortic and Mitral Valve Regurgitation. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Nov-Dec;39(6):e70254.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.70254pubmed: 41070729google scholar: lookup
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