Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of left ventricular torsion using speckle tracking echocardiography

  • Published:
Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Left ventricular (LV) torsion/twist, wringing motion of the heart showing clockwise rotation at the base and counter-clockwise rotation at the apex during systole and its rapid reversal at early diastole, is an important contribution to both LV systolic and diastolic function. Recent development of two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography allows the noninvasive measurement of LV twist in various cardiovascular pathologies, which may provide new understanding of LV mechanics. We review the clinical utility of measuring LV twist indices assessed by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Sengupta PP, Khandheria BK, Narula J: Twist and untwist mechanics of the left ventricle. Heart Fail Clin 2008, 4:315–324.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Sengupta PP, Korinek J, Belohlavek M, et al.: Left ventricular structure and function: basic science for cardiac imaging. J Am Coll Cardiol 2006, 48:1988–2001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Sengupta PP, Tajik AJ, Chandrasekaran K, Khandheria BK: Twist mechanics of the left ventricle: principles and application. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2008, 1:366–376.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Takeuchi M, Otsuji Y, Lang RM: Evaluation of left ventricular function using left ventricular twist and torsion parameters. Curr Cardiol Rep 2009, 11:225–230.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Buchalter MB, Weiss JL, Rogers WJ, et al.: Noninvasive quantification of left ventricular rotational deformation in normal humans using magnetic resonance imaging myocardial tagging. Circulation 1990, 81:1236–1244.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ingels H, De D, Stinson EB, et al.: Relation between longitudinal, circumferential, and oblique shortening and torsional deformation in the left ventricle of the transplanted human heart. Circ Res 1989, 64:915–927.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Tischler M, Niggel J: Left ventricular systolic torsion and exercise in normal hearts. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2003, 16:670–674.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Notomi Y, Setser RM, Shiota T, et al.: Assessment of left ventricular torsional deformation by Doppler tissue imaging: validation study with tagged magnetic resonance imaging. Circulation 2005, 111:1141–1147.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chung J, Abraszewski P, Yu X, et al.: Paradoxical increase in ventricular torsion and systolic torsion rate in type I diabetic patients under tight glycemic control. J Am Coll Cardiol 2006, 47:384–390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Helle-Valle T, Crosby J, Edvardsen T, et al.: New noninvasive method for assessment of left ventricular rotation: speckle tracking echocardiography. Circulation 2005, 112:3149–3156.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Notomi Y, Lysyansky P, Setser RM, et al.: Measurement of ventricular torsion by two-dimensional ultrasound speckle tracking imaging. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005, 45:2034–2041.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Takeuchi M, Borden WB, Nakai H, et al.: Reduced and delayed untwisting of the left ventricle in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy: a study using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging. Eur Heart J 2007, 28:2756–2762.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Wang J, Khoury DS, Yue Y, et al.: Left ventricular untwisting rate by speckle tracking echocardiography. Circulation 2007, 116:2580–2586.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Henson RE, Song SK, Pastorek JS, et al.: Left ventricular torsion is equal in mice and humans. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2000, 278:H1117–H1123.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. van Dalen BM, Vletter WB, Soliman OI, et al.: Importance of transducer position in the assessment of apical rotation by speckle tracking echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008, 21:895–898.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Weyman AE: The year in echocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007, 49:1212–1219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Notomi Y, Srinath G, Shiota T, et al.: Maturational and adaptive modulation of left ventricular torsional biomechanics: Doppler tissue imaging observation from infancy to adulthood. Circulation 2006, 113:2534–2541.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Takeuchi M, Nakai H, Kokumai M, et al.: Age-related changes in left ventricular twist assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2006, 19:1077–1084.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. van Dalen BM, Soliman OI, Vletter WB, et al.: Age-related changes in the biomechanics of left ventricular twist measured by speckle tracking echocardiography. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2008, 295:H1705–H1711.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Dong SJ, Hees PS, Siu CO, et al.: MRI assessment of LV relaxation by untwisting rate: a new isovolumic phase measure of tau. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2001, 281:H2002–H2009.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rademakers FE, Buchalter MB, Rogers WJ, et al.: Dissociation between left ventricular untwisting and filling. Accentuation by catecholamines. Circulation 1992, 85:1572–1581.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kang SJ, Lim HS, Choi BJ, et al.: Longitudinal strain and torsion assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking correlate with the serum level of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, a marker of myocardial fibrosis, in patients with hypertension. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008, 21:907–911.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Park SJ, Miyazaki C, Bruce CJ, et al.: Left ventricular torsion by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with diastolic dysfunction and normal ejection fraction. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008, 21:1129–1137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Nagel E, Stuber M, Lakatos M, et al.: Cardiac rotation and relaxation after anterolateral myocardial infarction. Coron Artery Dis 2000, 11:261–267.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Takeuchi M, Nishikage T, Nakai H, et al.: The assessment of left ventricular twist in anterior wall myocardial infarction using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2007, 20:36–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Bansal M, Leano RL, Marwick TH: Clinical assessment of left ventricular systolic torsion: effects of myocardial infarction and ischemia. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008, 21:887–894.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kroeker CA, Tyberg JV, Beyar R: Effects of ischemia on left ventricular apex rotation. An experimental study in anesthetized dogs. Circulation 1995, 92:3539–3548.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Arts T, Veenstra PC, Reneman RS: Epicardial deformation and left ventricular wall mechanisms during ejection in the dog. Am J Physiol 1982, 243:H379–H390.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Tibayan FA, Lai DT, Timek TA, et al.: Alterations in left ventricular torsion in tachycardia-induced dilated cardiomyopathy. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002, 124:43–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Setser RM, Smedira NG, Lieber ML, et al.: Left ventricular torsional mechanics after left ventricular reconstruction surgery for ischemic cardiomyopathy. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007, 134:888–896.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Saito M, Okayama H, Nishimura K, et al.: Determinants of left ventricular untwisting behaviour in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: analysis by two-dimensional speckle tracking. Heart 2009, 95:290–296.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kanzaki H, Nakatani S, Yamada N, et al.: Impaired systolic torsion in dilated cardiomyopathy: reversal of apical rotation at mid-systole characterized with magnetic resonance tagging method. Basic Res Cardiol 2006, 101:465–470.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Meluzin J, Spinarova L, Hude P, et al.: Left ventricular mechanics in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy; systolic-diastolic coupling and torsion. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2009, 22:486–493.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Nagakura T, Takeuchi M, Yoshitani H, et al.: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with more severe left ventricular dyssynchrony than is hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. Echocardiography 2007, 24:677–684.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Nagueh SF, McFalls J, Meyer D, et al.: Tissue Doppler imaging predicts the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in subjects with subclinical disease. Circulation 2003, 108:395–398.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Carasso S, Yang H, Woo A, et al.: Systolic myocardial mechanics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: novel concepts and implications for clinical status. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008, 21:675–683.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. van Dalen BM, Kauer F, Soliman OI, et al.: Influence of the pattern of hypertrophy on left ventricular twist in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Heart 2009, 95:657–661.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Notomi Y, Martin-Miklovic MG, Oryszak SJ, et al.: Enhanced ventricular untwisting during exercise: a mechanistic manifestation of elastic recoil described by Doppler tissue imaging. Circulation 2006, 113:2524–2533.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Nagel E, Stuber M, Burkhard B, et al.: Cardiac rotation and relaxation in patients with aortic valve stenosis. Eur Heart J 2000, 21:582–589.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Stuber M, Scheidegger MB, Fischer SE, et al.: Alterations in the local myocardial motion pattern in patients suffering from pressure overload due to aortic stenosis. Circulation 1999, 100:361–368.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Biederman RW, Doyle M, Yamrozik J, et al.: Physiologic compensation is supranormal in compensated aortic stenosis: does it return to normal after aortic valve replacement or is it blunted by coexistent coronary artery disease? An intramyocardial magnetic resonance imaging study. Circulation 2005, 112:I429–I436.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Tibayan FA, Rodriguez F, Langer F, et al.: Alterations in left ventricular torsion and diastolic recoil after myocardial infarction with and without chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation. Circulation 2004, 110:II109–II114.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Borg AN, Harrison JL, Argyle RA, Ray SG: Left ventricular torsion in primary chronic mitral regurgitation. Heart 2008, 94:597–603.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Tanaka H, Oishi Y, Mizuguchi Y, et al.: Contribution of the pericardium to left ventricular torsion and regional myocardial function in patients with total absence of the left pericardium. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008, 21:268–274.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Sengupta PP, Krishnamoorthy VK, Abhayaratna WP, et al.: Disparate patterns of left ventricular mechanics differentiate constrictive pericarditis from restrictive cardiomyopathy. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2008, 1:29–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Perez de Isla L, Balcones DV, Fernandez-Golfin C, et al.: Three-dimensional-wall motion tracking: a new and faster tool for myocardial strain assessment: comparison with two-dimensional-wall motion tracking. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2009, 22:325–330.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan

    Masaaki Takeuchi

Authors
  1. Masaaki Takeuchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kyoko Otani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yutaka Otsuji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Roberto M. Lang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masaaki Takeuchi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Takeuchi, M., Otani, K., Otsuji, Y. et al. Assessment of left ventricular torsion using speckle tracking echocardiography. curr cardiovasc imaging rep 2, 356–362 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-009-0045-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-009-0045-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation