Feasibility and reproducibility of feature-tracking-based strain and strain rate measures of the left ventricle in different diseases and genders.

BACKGROUND

The measurement of myocardial deformation by strain analysis is an evolving tool to quantify regional and global myocardial function.

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and reproducibility of myocardial strain/strain rate measurements with magnetic resonance feature tracking (MR-FT) in healthy subjects and in patient groups.

STUDY TYPE: Prospective study.

POPULATION: Sixty patients (20 hypertensives with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (H); 20 nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (D); 20 ischemic heart disease (I); as well as 20 controls (C) were included, 10 men and 10 women in each group.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 1.5T MR protocol including steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine sequences in the standard views and late enhancement sequences.

ASSESSMENT: LV volumes, mass, global and regional radial, circumferential, and longitudinal strain/strain rate were measured using CVI42 software. The analysis time was recorded.

STATISTICAL TESTS: Intraobserver and interobserver agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were obtained for reproducibility assessment as well as differences according to gender and group of pertinence.

RESULTS

Strain/strain rate analysis could be achieved in all subjects. The average analysis time was 14 ± 3 minutes. The average intraobserver ICC was excellent (ICC >0.90) for strain and good (ICC >0.75) for strain rate. Reproducibility of strain measurements was good to excellent (ICC >0.75) for all groups of subjects and both genders. Reproducibility of strain measurements was good for basal segments (ICC >0.75) and excellent for middle and apical segments (ICC >0.90). Reproducibility of strain rate measurements was moderate for basal segments (ICC >0.50) and good for middle and apical segments.

DATA

CONCLUSION

MR-FT for strain/strain rate analysis is a feasible and highly reproducible technique. CVI42 FT analysis was equally feasible and reproducible in various pathologies and between genders. Better reproducibility was seen globally for middle and apical segments, which needs further clarification.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Technical Efficacy Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1415-1425.