Ultrasonographic circumferential strain pattern analysis of the cardiac septal wall in rodents with experimental pulmonary hypertension.

Van Heyningen, Charl

Ultrasonographic circumferential strain pattern analysis of the cardiac septal wall in rodents with experimental pulmonary hypertension.

Thesis / Dissertation

2023

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a devastating disease. Early diagnosis remains challenging, but is associated with improved outcomes. Rodent models have been extensively used to investigate PAH. Ultrasonographic strain pattern analysis provides a novel method of assessing cardiac function, but difficulties in transthoracic imaging of the right heart are a barrier to its use in diagnosis of PAH. Segmental strain pattern analysis of the intraventricular septum circumvents this problem while still providing insight into right ventricular (RV) function. In this paper, the authors compare the septal strain pattern of rodents with chemically-induced PAH, to a known indicator of right heart pressures, pulmonary arterial acceleration time (PAAT). Method This was a secondary analysis of ultrasonographic data of rodents from a previous study with chemically-induced PAH. Strain pattern analysis was used to identify peak circumferential strain (CS) of the septal segment on short axis views via transthoracic echocardiography. PAAT was also measured. Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the parameters. Results The relationship between CS and PAAT was linear (y = 7.1343 + -0.6118 x, p=0.001, R2 0.69). Rodents' predicted CS was equal to 0.59 + (-1.1 x PAATms). CS increased by 1.1% for every 1 ms decrease in PAAT. Conclusion In rodents with PAH, peak CS of the septal segment on short axis view can be used to predict PAAT, and thus be used as a measure of PAH. Peak CS can reliably and easily be measured using transthoracic echocardiography, and may be valuable in the investigation and management of PAH in humans. Further studies should be conducted.

Keywords

Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine

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