Definitions for a common standard for 2D speckle tracking echocardiography: consensus document of the EACVI/ASE/Industry Task Force to standardize deformation imaging.

Recognizing the critical need for standardization in strain imaging, in 2010, the European Association of Echocardiography (now the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging, EACVI) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) invited technical representatives from all interested vendors to participate in a concerted effort to reduce intervendor variability of strain measurement. As an initial product of the work of the EACVI/ASE/Industry initiative to standardize deformation imaging, we prepared this technical document which is intended to provide definitions, names, abbreviations, formulas, and procedures for calculation of physical quantities derived from speckle tracking echocardiography and thus create a common standard.

Effect of early initiation of dialysis on cardiac structure and function: results from the echo substudy of the IDEAL trial.

Background: Abnormalities of cardiac structure and function are common in patients undergoing dialysis, and cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality in this group. Heart failure is a common clinical manifestation of cardiovascular disease and is preceded by left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). There are variable reports about the impact of dialysis on LVH, both deleterious and beneficial.