Differences in three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived left ventricular mechanics in healthy adults with greater end-diastolic versus end-systolic aortic valve annular area

Abstract Introduction According to the literature, in approximately 60% of cases, aortic valve annulus (AVA) is greater in end-systole, equal with end-diastolic value in 8% and larger in end-diastole in 32% of healthy subjects. However, it is unclear whether any left ventricular (LV) functional differences may be behind this phenomenon. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the potential LV volumetric and functional differences observed in healthy individuals based on whether the end-diastolic or end-systolic AVA area is larger. Methods The present study comprised 112 healthy adults who underwent two-dimensional (2D) Doppler echocardiography together with 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE). Three subgroups were created, in which end-systolic AVA area was greater (n=70), end-systolic and end-diastolic AVA areas were equal (n=8) and end-diastolc AVA area was greater (n=34). Results No differences in routine 2D echocardiographic data and 3DSTE-derived LV volumetric parameters could be detected between the groups examined. Global and mean segmental LV strain did not differ between the groups examined. However, basal LV radial (29.1 ± 9.2% vs. 34.3 ± 13.3%, p