The three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in distinguishing between ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiology of heart failure.

Aims: The aim of this pilot study was to compare selected three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D STE) parameters in patients with ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiology of heart failure (HF) and to identify indices that can differentiate the two pathologies.

Methods And Results: Forty patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% were included to the study: 20 patients (age 63 ± 9.0 years, LVEF 29.

Left atrial appendage strain rate is associated with documented thromboembolism in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: The left atrial appendage (LAA) strain and strain rate have not yet been studied in the prediction of cardiac thromboembolism. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the significance of LAA strain and strain rate as assessed by speckle-tracking imaging in relation to documented thromboembolic events.

Methods: A group of 80 patients with a mean age of 65 years who were referred for electrical cardioversion of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation was retrospectively analyzed.