@phdthesis{Fleischer2023,
  author    = {Fleischer, Anna},
  title     = {Durchf{\"u}hrbarkeit und diagnostische Genauigkeit der tragbaren Echokardiographie am Krankenbett von Patienten und Patientinnen mit isch{\"a}mischem Schlaganfall auf Stroke Unit - eine Pilotstudie},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-29654},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-296547},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Beinahe jeder dritte isch{\"a}mische Schlaganfall ist urs{\"a}chlich auf Erkrankungen des Herzens zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren. Daher empfehlen Leitlinien allen Patienten und Patientinnen, bei denen eine kardioembolische {\"A}tiologie des Schlaganfalls vermutet wird und bei denen ein Vorhofflimmern nicht bereits bekannt ist, als Teil der Routinediagnostik eine echokardiographische Untersuchung, um Hinweise auf die {\"A}tiologie des isch{\"a}mischen Schlaganfalls zu gewinnen und um gegebenenfalls Maßnahmen zur Sekund{\"a}rpr{\"a}vention einleiten zu k{\"o}nnen. Jedoch ist der Zugang zu solchen echokardiographischen Untersuchungen oftmals limitiert, besonders f{\"u}r Patienten und Patientinnen auf Stroke Units, denn dort {\"u}berschreitet die Nachfrage h{\"a}ufig die verf{\"u}gbaren personellen und instrumentellen Kapazit{\"a}ten. Zudem stellt der Transport bettl{\"a}geriger Patienten und Patientinnen in andere Abteilungen eine Belastung dar. Daher stellt sich die Frage, ob zuk{\"u}nftig im Rahmen wissenschaftlicher Studien POC-Echokardiographie-Ger{\"a}te zur Diagnostik bestimmter Herzerkrankungen einschließlich einer systolischen Dysfunktion bei Patienten und Patientinnen mit isch{\"a}mischem Schlaganfall eingesetzt werden k{\"o}nnen, mit dem Ziel Patienten und Patientinnen zu identifizieren, die von einer erweiterten echokardiographischen Untersuchung profitieren k{\"o}nnten. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden prospektiven Validierungsstudie untersuchte eine Studentin 78 Patienten und Patientinnen mit akutem isch{\"a}mischem Schlaganfall mithilfe eines POC-Echokardiographie-Ger{\"a}ts auf der Stroke Unit der Neurologischen Abteilung des Universit{\"a}tsklinikums W{\"u}rzburg. Im Anschluss daran erhielten alle 78 Patienten und Patientinnen eine Kontrolluntersuchung durch eine erfahrene Echokardiographie-Raterin mithilfe eines SE-Ger{\"a}ts in einem externen Herzzentrum. Die diagnostischen Qualit{\"a}ten des POC-Echokardiographie-Ger{\"a}ts f{\"u}r Forschungszwecke zur fokussierten kardialen Diagnostik nach isch{\"a}mischem Schlaganfall im Vergleich zu einer SE-Untersuchung konnten mithilfe der Validierungsstudie best{\"a}tigt werden. Es zeigte sich insbesondere, dass die POC-Echokardiographie f{\"u}r die Detektion einer LVEF≤55\% mit einer Sensitivit{\"a}t von 100\% geeignet war. Um zu evaluieren, ob sich das POC-Echokardiographie-Ger{\"a}t in Zukunft auch in der klinischen Praxis als Screeninginstrument eignet, mit dem Ziel eine individuelle Behandlung von Schlaganfallpatienten und -patientinnen zu gew{\"a}hrleisten, m{\"u}ssen gr{\"o}ßere, prospektive Studien durchgef{\"u}hrt werden, in denen die Fallzahl f{\"u}r bestimmte kardiologische Erkrankungen ausreichend hoch ist.},
  subject      = {Schlaganfall},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{MontellanoKluterRueckeretal.2022,
  author    = {Montellano, Felipe A. and Kluter, Elisabeth J. and R{\"u}cker, Viktoria and Ungeth{\"u}m, Kathrin and Mackenrodt, Daniel and Wiedmann, Silke and Dege, Tassilo and Quilitzsch, Anika and Morbach, Caroline and Frantz, Stefan and St{\"o}rk, Stefan and Haeusler, Karl Georg and Kleinschnitz, Christoph and Heuschmann, Peter U.},
  title     = {Cardiac dysfunction and high-sensitive C-reactive protein are associated with troponin T elevation in ischemic stroke: insights from the SICFAIL study},
  series = {BMC Neurology},
  volume    = {22},
  journal   = {BMC Neurology},
  number    = {1},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12883-022-03017-1},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-300119},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Background Troponin elevation is common in ischemic stroke (IS) patients. The pathomechanisms involved are incompletely understood and comprise coronary and non-coronary causes, e.g. autonomic dysfunction. We investigated determinants of troponin elevation in acute IS patients including markers of autonomic dysfunction, assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) time domain variables. Methods Data were collected within the Stroke Induced Cardiac FAILure (SICFAIL) cohort study. IS patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, W{\"u}rzburg University Hospital, underwent baseline investigation including cardiac history, physical examination, echocardiography, and blood sampling. Four HRV time domain variables were calculated in patients undergoing electrocardiographic Holter monitoring. Multivariable logistic regression with corresponding odds ratios (OR) and 95\% confidence intervals (CI) was used to investigate the determinants of high-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) levels ≥14 ng/L. Results We report results from 543 IS patients recruited between 01/2014-02/2017. Of those, 203 (37\%) had hs-TnT ≥14 ng/L, which was independently associated with older age (OR per year 1.05; 95\% CI 1.02-1.08), male sex (OR 2.65; 95\% CI 1.54-4.58), decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR per 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 0.71; 95\% CI 0.61-0.84), systolic dysfunction (OR 2.79; 95\% CI 1.22-6.37), diastolic dysfunction (OR 2.29; 95\% CI 1.29-4.02), atrial fibrillation (OR 2.30; 95\% CI 1.25-4.23), and increasing levels of C-reactive protein (OR 1.48 per log unit; 95\% CI 1.22-1.79). We did not identify an independent association of troponin elevation with the investigated HRV variables. Conclusion Cardiac dysfunction and elevated C-reactive protein, but not a reduced HRV as surrogate of autonomic dysfunction, were associated with increased hs-TnT levels in IS patients independent of established cardiovascular risk factors.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HauserDornbergerMalzahnetal.2021,
  author    = {Hauser, T. and Dornberger, V. and Malzahn, U. and Grebe, S. J. and Liu, D. and St{\"o}rk, S. and Nauck, M. and Friedrich, N. and D{\"o}rr, M. and Wanner, C. and Krane, V. and Hammer, F.},
  title     = {The effect of spironolactone on diastolic function in haemodialysis patients},
  series = {The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging},
  volume    = {37},
  journal   = {The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging},
  number    = {6},
  issn      = {1573-0743},
  doi       = {10.1007/s10554-021-02176-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-269033},
  pages     = {1927-1936},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is highly prevalent in patients on maintenance haemodialysis (HD) and lacks effective treatment. We investigated the effect of spironolactone on cardiac structure and function with a specific focus on diastolic function parameters. The MiREnDa trial examined the effect of 50 mg spironolactone once daily versus placebo on left ventricular mass index (LVMi) among 97 HD patients during 40 weeks of treatment. In this echocardiographic substudy, diastolic function was assessed using predefined structural and functional parameters including E/e'. Changes in the frequency of HFpEF were analysed using the comprehensive 'HFA-PEFF score'. Complete echocardiographic assessment was available in 65 individuals (59.5 ± 13.0 years, 21.5\% female) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF > 50\%). At baseline, mean E/e' was 15.2 ± 7.8 and 37 (56.9\%) patients fulfilled the criteria of HFpEF according to the HFA-PEFF score. There was no significant difference in mean change of E/e' between the spironolactone group and the placebo group (+ 0.93 ± 5.39 vs. + 1.52 ± 5.94, p = 0.68) or in mean change of left atrial volume index (LAVi) (1.9 ± 12.3 ml/m\(^{2}\) vs. 1.7 ± 14.1 ml/m\(^{2}\), p = 0.89). Furthermore, spironolactone had no significant effect on mean change in LVMi (+ 0.8 ± 14.2 g/m\(^{2}\) vs. + 2.7 ± 15.9 g/m\(^{2}\); p = 0.72) or NT-proBNP (p = 0.96). Treatment with spironolactone did not alter HFA-PEFF score class compared with placebo (p = 0.63). Treatment with 50 mg of spironolactone for 40 weeks had no significant effect on diastolic function parameters in HD patients.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Saleh2021,
  author    = {Saleh, Ahmed},
  title     = {The emerging role of stress speckle tracking in viability world},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-22344},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-223447},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Introduction: Speckle-tracking echocardiography has recently emerged as a quantitative ultrasound technique for accurately evaluating myocardial function by analyzing the motion of speckles identified. Speckle-tracking obtained under stress may offer an opportunity to improve the detection of dynamic regional abnormalities and myocardial viability. Objective: To evaluate stress speckle tracking as tool to detect myocardial viability in comparison to cardiac MRI in post-STEMI patients. Methods: 49 patients were prospectively enrolled in our 18-month's study. Dobutamin stress echocardiography was performed 4 days post-infarction accompanied with automated functional imaging (Speckle tracking) analysis of left ventricle during rest and then during low dose stress. All patients underwent a follow up stress echocardiography at 6 weeks with speckle tracking analysis. Cardiac MRI took place concomitantly at 4 days post-infarction and 6 weeks. We carried out an assessment of re-admission with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after one year of enrollment. Results: Investigating strain rate obtained with stress speckle tracking after revascularization predicted the extent of myocardial scar, determined by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. A good correlation was found between the global strain and total infarct size (R 0.75, p< 0.001). Furthermore, a clear inverse relationship was found between the segmental strain and the transmural extent of infarction in each segment. (R -0.69, p<0.01). Meanwhile it provided 81.82\% sensitivity and 82.6\% specificity to detect transmural from non-transmural infarction at a cut-off value of -10.15. Global stress strain rate showed 80\% sensitivity and 77.5\% specificity at a cut-off value of -9.1 to predict hospital re-admission with ACS. A cut-off value of -8.4 had shown a 69.23\% sensitivity and 73.5\% specificity to predict the re-admission related to other cardiac symptoms. Conclusion: Strain rate obtained from speckle tracking during stress is a novel method of detecting myocardial viability after STEMI .Moreover it carries a promising role in post-myocardial infarction risk stratification with a reasonable prediction of reversible cardiac-related hospital re-admission.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LiuHuLauetal.2021,
  author    = {Liu, Dan and Hu, Kai and Lau, Kolja and Kiwitz, Tobias and Robitzkat, Katharina and Hammel, Clara and Lengenfelder, Bj{\"o}rn Daniel and Ertl, Georg and Frantz, Stefan and Nordbeck, Peter},
  title     = {Impact of diastolic dysfunction on outcome in heart failure patients with mid-range or reduced ejection fraction},
  series = {ESC Heart Failure},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {ESC Heart Failure},
  number    = {4},
  doi       = {10.1002/ehf2.13352},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258894},
  pages     = {2802-2815},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Aims The role of diastolic dysfunction (DD) in prognostic evaluation in heart failure (HF) patients with impaired systolic function remains unclear. We investigated the impact of echocardiography-defined DD on survival in HF patients with mid-range (HFmrEF, EF 41-49\%) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, EF < 40\%). Methods and results A total of 2018 consecutive hospitalized HF patients were retrospectively included and divided in two groups based on baseline EF: HFmrEF group (n = 951, aged 69 ± 13 years, 74.2\% male) and HFrEF group (n = 1067, aged 68 ± 13 years, 76.3\% male). Clinical data were collected and analysed. All patients completed ≥1 year clinical follow-up. The primary endpoint was defined as all-cause death (including heart transplantation) and cardiovascular (CV)-related death. All-cause mortality (30.8\% vs. 24.9\%, P = 0.003) and CV mortality (19.1\% vs. 13.5\%, P = 0.001) were significantly higher in the HFrEF group than the HFmrEF group during follow-up [median 24 (13-36) months]. All-cause mortality increased in proportion to DD severity (mild, moderate, and severe) in either HFmrEF (17.1\%, 25.4\%, and 37.0\%, P < 0.001) or HFrEF (18.9\%, 30.3\%, and 39.2\%, P < 0.001) patients. The risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.347, P = 0.015] and CV mortality (HR = 1.508, P = 0.007) was significantly higher in HFrEF patients with severe DD compared with non-severe DD after adjustment for identified clinical and echocardiographic covariates. For HFmrEF patients, severe DD was independently associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR = 1.358, P = 0.046) but not with CV mortality (HR = 1.155, P = 0.469). Conclusions Echocardiography-defined severe DD is independently associated with increased all-cause mortality in patients with HFmrEF and HFrEF.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchnabelCamenKnebeletal.2021,
  author    = {Schnabel, Renate B. and Camen, Stephan and Knebel, Fabian and Hagendorff, Andreas and Bavendiek, Udo and B{\"o}hm, Michael and Doehner, Wolfram and Endres, Matthias and Gr{\"o}schel, Klaus and Goette, Andreas and Huttner, Hagen B. and Jensen, Christoph and Kirchhof, Paulus and Korosoglou, Grigorius and Laufs, Ulrich and Liman, Jan and Morbach, Caroline and Navabi, Darius G{\"u}nther and Neumann-Haefelin, Tobias and Pfeilschifter, Waltraut and Poli, Sven and Rizos, Timolaos and Rolf, Andreas and R{\"o}ther, Joachim and Sch{\"a}bitz, Wolf R{\"u}diger and Steiner, Thorsten and Thomalla, G{\"o}tz and Wachter, Rolf and Haeusler, Karl Georg},
  title     = {Expert opinion paper on cardiac imaging after ischemic stroke},
  series = {Clinical Research in Cardiology},
  volume    = {110},
  journal   = {Clinical Research in Cardiology},
  number    = {7},
  issn      = {1861-0692},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00392-021-01834-x},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-266662},
  pages     = {938-958},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {This expert opinion paper on cardiac imaging after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) includes a statement of the "Heart and Brain" consortium of the German Cardiac Society and the German Stroke Society. The Stroke Unit-Commission of the German Stroke Society and the German Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) endorsed this paper. Cardiac imaging is a key component of etiological work-up after stroke. Enhanced echocardiographic tools, constantly improving cardiac computer tomography (CT) as well as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer comprehensive non- or less-invasive cardiac evaluation at the expense of increased costs and/or radiation exposure. Certain imaging findings usually lead to a change in medical secondary stroke prevention or may influence medical treatment. However, there is no proof from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that the choice of the imaging method influences the prognosis of stroke patients. Summarizing present knowledge, the German Heart and Brain consortium proposes an interdisciplinary, staged standard diagnostic scheme for the detection of risk factors of cardio-embolic stroke. This expert opinion paper aims to give practical advice to physicians who are involved in stroke care. In line with the nature of an expert opinion paper, labeling of classes of recommendations is not provided, since many statements are based on expert opinion, reported case series, and clinical experience.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ChenLiuWeidemannetal.2021,
  author    = {Chen, Menjia and Liu, Dan and Weidemann, Frank and Lengenfelder, Bj{\"o}rn Daniel and Ertl, Georg and Hu, Kai and Frantz, Stefan and Nordbeck, Peter},
  title     = {Echocardiographic risk factors of left ventricular thrombus in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction},
  series = {ESC Heart Failure},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {ESC Heart Failure},
  number    = {6},
  doi       = {10.1002/ehf2.13605},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-261067},
  pages     = {5248-5258},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Aims This study aimed to identify echocardiographic determinants of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) formation after acute anterior myocardial infarction (MI). Methods and results This case-control study comprised 55 acute anterior MI patients with LVT as cases and 55 acute anterior MI patients without LVT as controls, who were selected from a cohort of consecutive patients with ischemic heart failure in our hospital. The cases and controls were matched for age, sex, and left ventricular ejection fraction. LVT was detected by routine/contrast echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging during the first 3 months following MI. Formation of apical aneurysm after MI was independently associated with LVT formation [72.0\% vs. 43.5\%, odds ratio (OR) = 5.06, 95\% confidence interval (CI) 1.65-15.48, P = 0.005]. Echocardiographic risk factors associated with LVT formation included reduced mitral annular plane systolic excursion (<7 mm, OR = 4.69, 95\% CI 1.84-11.95, P = 0.001), moderate-severe diastolic dysfunction (OR = 2.71, 95\% CI 1.11-6.57, P = 0.028), and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction [reduced tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion < 17 mm (OR = 5.48, 95\% CI 2.12-14.13, P < 0.001), reduced RV fractional area change < 0.35 (OR = 3.32, 95\% CI 1.20-9.18, P = 0.021), and enlarged RV mid diameter (per 5 mm increase OR = 1.62, 95\% CI 1.12-2.34, P = 0.010)]. Reduced tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (<17 mm) significantly associated with increased risk of LVT in anterior MI patients (OR = 3.84, 95\% CI 1.37-10.75, P = 0.010), especially in those patients without apical aneurysm (OR = 5.12, 95\% CI 1.45-18.08, P = 0.011), independent of body mass index, hypertension, anaemia, mitral annular plane systolic excursion, and moderate-severe diastolic dysfunction. Conclusions Right ventricular dysfunction as determined by reduced TAPSE or RV fractional area change is independently associated with LVT formation in acute anterior MI patients, especially in the setting of MI patients without the formation of an apical aneurysm. This study suggests that besides assessment of left ventricular abnormalities, assessment of concomitant RV dysfunction is of importance on risk stratification of LVT formation in patients with acute anterior MI.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BeyhoffLohrThieleetal.2020,
  author    = {Beyhoff, Niklas and Lohr, David and Thiele, Arne and Foryst-Ludwig, Anna and Klopfleisch, Robert and Schreiber, Laura M. and Kintscher, Ulrich},
  title     = {Myocardial Infarction After High-Dose Catecholamine Application—A Case Report From an Experimental Imaging Study},
  series = {Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine},
  doi       = {10.3389/fcvm.2020.580296},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-217959},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Although heart failure following myocardial infarction (MI) represents a major health burden, underlying microstructural and functional changes remain incompletely understood. Here, we report on a case of unexpected MI after treatment with the catecholamine isoproterenol in an experimental imaging study in mice using different state-of-the-art imaging modalities. The decline in cardiac function was documented by ultrahigh-frequency echocardiography and speckle-tracking analyses. Myocardial microstructure was studied ex vivo at a spatial resolution of 100 × 100 × 100 μm\(^{3}\) using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) and histopathologic analyses. Two weeks after ISO treatment, the animal showed an apical aneurysm accompanied by reduced radial strain in corresponding segments and impaired global systolic function. DT-MRI revealed a loss of contractile fiber tracts together with a disarray of remaining fibers as corresponding microstructural correlates. This preclinical case report provides valuable insights into pathophysiology and morphologic-functional relations of heart failure following MI using emerging imaging technologies.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GrebeMalzahnDonhauseretal.2020,
  author    = {Grebe, S{\"o}ren Jendrik and Malzahn, Uwe and Donhauser, Julian and Liu, Dan and Wanner, Christoph and Krane, Vera and Hammer, Fabian},
  title     = {Quantification of left ventricular mass by echocardiography compared to cardiac magnet resonance imaging in hemodialysis patients},
  series = {Cardiovascular Ultrasound},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {Cardiovascular Ultrasound},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12947-020-00217-y},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229282},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), defined by the left ventricular mass index (LVMI), is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients and a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular events. Compared to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), echocardiography tends to overestimate the LVMI. Here, we evaluate the diagnostic performance of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) compared to CMR regarding the assessment of LVMI in hemodialysis patients. Methods: TTR and CMR data for 95 hemodialysis patients who participated in the MiREnDa trial were analyzed. The LVMI was calculated by two-dimensional (2D) TTE-guided M-mode measurements employing the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and Teichholz (Th) formulas, which were compared to the reference method, CMR. Results: LVH was present in 44\% of patients based on LVMI measured by CMR. LVMI measured by echocardiography correlated moderately with CMR, ASE: r = 0.44 (0.34-0.62); Th: r = 0.44 (0.32-0.62). Compared to CMR, both echocardiographic formulas overestimated LVMI (mean increment LVMI (ASE-CMR): 19.5 +/- 19.48 g/m(2),p < 0.001; mean increment LVMI (Th-CMR): 15.9 +/- 15.89 g/m(2),p < 0.001). We found greater LVMI overestimation in patients with LVH using the ASE formula compared to the Th formula. Stratification of patients into CMR LVMI quartiles showed a continuous decrease in increment LVMI with increasing CMR LVMI quartiles for the Th formula (p < 0.001) but not for the ASE formula (p = 0.772). Bland-Altman analysis showed that the Th formula had a constant bias independent of LVMI. Both methods had good discrimination ability for the detection of LVH (ROC-AUC: 0.819 (0.737-0.901) and 0.808 (0.723-0.892) for Th and ASE, respectively). Conclusions: The ASE and Th formulas overestimate LVMI in hemodialysis patients. However, the overestimation is less with the Th formula, particularly with increasing LVMI. The results suggest that the Th formula should be preferred for measurement of LVMI in chronic hemodialysis patients.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Saleh2019,
  author    = {Saleh, Ahmed},
  title     = {The emerging role of stress speckle tracking in viability world},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-18053},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-180536},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Introduction: Speckle-tracking echocardiography has recently emerged as a quantitative ultrasound technique for accurately evaluating myocardial function by analyzing the motion of speckles identified. Speckle-tracking obtained under stress may offer an opportunity to improve the detection of dynamic regional abnormalities and myocardial viability. Objective: To evaluate stress speckle tracking as tool to detect myocardial viability in comparison to cardiac MRI in post-STEMI patients. Methods: 49 patients were prospectively enrolled in our 18-month's study. Dobutamin stress echocardiography was performed 4 days post-infarction accompanied with automated functional imaging (Speckle tracking) analysis of left ventricle during rest and then during low dose stress. All patients underwent a follow up stress echocardiography at 6 weeks with speckle tracking analysis. Cardiac MRI took place concomitantly at 4 days post-infarction and 6 weeks. We carried out an assessment of re-admission with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after one year of enrollment. Results: Investigating strain rate obtained with stress speckle tracking after revascularization predicted the extent of myocardial scar, determined by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. A good correlation was found between the global strain and total infarct size (R 0.75, p< 0.001). Furthermore, a clear inverse relationship was found between the segmental strain and the transmural extent of infarction in each segment. (R -0.69, p<0.01). Meanwhile it provided 81.82\% sensitivity and 82.6\% specificity to detect transmural from non-transmural infarction at a cut-off value of -10.15. Global stress strain rate showed 80\% sensitivity and 77.5\% specificity at a cut-off value of -9.1 to predict hospital re-admission with ACS. A cut-off value of -8.4 had shown a 69.23\% sensitivity and 73.5\% specificity to predict the re-admission related to other cardiac symptoms. Conclusion: Strain rate obtained from speckle tracking during stress is a novel method of detecting myocardial viability after STEMI .Moreover it carries a promising role in post-myocardial infarction risk stratification with a reasonable prediction of reversible cardiac-related hospital re-admission.},
  language  = {en}
}