M-mode apical systolic excursion: A new and simple method to evaluate global left ventricular longitudinal strain.

Introduction: Since M-mode measurements can assess deformation of specific regions of the left ventricle, we hypothesized that M-mode measurements like M-mode apical systolic excursion (MMASE) and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) may be correlated with left ventricular longitudinal strain (LVLS).

Methods: All subjects of the study underwent a full echocardiographic evaluation and MMASE and MAPSE measurement. Three-dimensional wall motion tracking (3D-WMT) was performed.