Left ventricular remodelling and systolic function measurement with 64 multi-slice computed tomography versus second harmonic echocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease: A double blind study

The present study evaluated LV volumes, ejection fraction (LVEF) and stroke volume (SV) obtained by 64-MDCT and to compare these data with those obtained by second harmonic 2D Echo, in patients referred for non-invasive coronary vessels evaluation. The most common technique in daily clinical practice used for determination of LV function is two-dimensional echocardiography (2D-TTE). Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) is an emerging new technique to detect coronary artery disease (CAD) and was recently proposed to assess LV function. 93 patients underwent to 64-MDCT for LV function and volumes assessment by segmental reconstruction algorithm (Argus) and compared with recent (2 months) 2D-TTE, all images were processed and interpreted by two observers blinded to the Echo and MDCT results. A close correlation between TTE and 64 MDCT was demonstrated for the ejection fraction LVEF (r = 0.84), end-diastolic volume LVEDV (r = 0.80) and end-systolic volume LVESV (r = 0.85); acceptable correlation was recruited for stroke volume LVSV (r = 0.58). Optimal results were recruited for inter-observer variability for 64-MDCT measured in 45 patients: LVESV (r = 0.82, p < 0.001), LVEDV (r = 0.83, p < 0.001), LVEF (r = 0.69, p < 0.002) and SV (r = 0.66, p < 0.001). Our results, showed that functional and temporal information contained in a coronary 64-MDCT study can be used to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic function and LV dimensions with good reproducibility and acceptable correlation respect to 2D-TTE. The combination of non-invasive coronary artery imaging and assessment of global LV function might became in the future a fast and conclusive cardiac work-up in patients with CAD.

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