Address of Correspondence:
Samir K Saha. MD, PhD, FACC, FESC
Consultant Cardiologist,
Acudoc Cardiac Imaging Laboratory
Stockholm,
Sweden.
E mail: samirksaha@gmail.com
Phone: + 46 7351351756
X: @samirsaha
WhatsApp +46761001303
“Spacetime tells matter how to move; matter tells spacetime how to
curve”.
John Wheller, an American theoretical physicist explaining Einstein´s
general theory of relativity.
Abstract :
Strain imaging as a tool to engage in unravelling the secrets of cardiac
motion in health and disease has opened a new horizon in the field of
clinical cardiology beyond the standard algorithm for quantification of
left ventricular function and dysfunction. As such, the wider
application of strain can probably be compared with the ubiquitous
application of the incretin molecule, glucagon like peptide 1 receptor
agonist (GLP 1RA) first applied to manage type 2 diabetes, that is now
indicated in many different conditions like obesity, heart failure, and
Alzheimer’s disease! This commentary would focus on the role of
automated strain imaging in heart failure, aortic stenosis, cardiac
amyloidosis, atrial fibrillation, left atrial, and right ventricular
strain, on a 2-dimensional domain of spacetime navigated, to some
extent, by AI. This commentary thus argues that automated strain imaging
is becoming an essential tool for comprehensive cardiac assessment
across various conditions.
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Only about a few decades ago coronary artery disease (CAD) was the prime
focus of cardiovascular research. Limitations in detection methods led
to the exploration of new tools like tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). The
European MYDISE data confirmed the potential of TDI in enhancing
detection 1, as did those from Australia2. The investigators have shown that application of
the velocity of left ventricular motion enhances the sensitivity and
specificity of dobutamine stress echocardiography for detection of
coronary artery disease, non-invasively.
In the review published in this issue of the journal by Gherbesia E et
al 3 the authors have shown that the 2D speckle
tracking strain imaging, built upon the foundation of TDI, is now a
reliable tool for assessment and management of various cardiac
conditions beyond CAD.