(NVKP-16-1-2016-0017 National Heart Program) Támogató: NKFIH
(RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00003)
(TKP2021-EGA-23) Támogató: Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztérium
Az orvos-, egészségtudományi- és gyógyszerészképzés tudományos műhelyeinek fejlesztése(EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00009)
Támogató: EFOP-VEKOP
(ÚNKP-23-3-II-SE-40)
(János Bolyai Research Scholarship)
Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is a prevalent and clinically significant complication
after heart transplantation (HTX). We aimed to characterize the diastolic function
of HTX recipients with both short-term and long-term follow-ups by applying left atrial
(LA) deformation analysis. We consecutively enrolled and followed up with 33 HTX patients.
Three assessments were performed one month, 3–5 months, and 3–5 years after surgery.
Beyond conventional echocardiographic measurements, apical four-chamber views optimized
for speckle tracking analysis were acquired and post-processed by dedicated software
solutions (TomTec AutoStrain LA and LV). Left atrial phasic functions were characterized
by reservoir, conduit, and contraction strains. We categorized diastolic function
according to current guidelines (normal diastolic function, indeterminate, DD). At
the first assessment, nine (27%) patients were in the DD category, and eleven (33%)
were indeterminate. At the second assessment, only one patient (3%) remained in the
DD category and six (18%) were indeterminate. At the third assessment, 100% of patients
were categorized as having normal diastolic function. LA reservoir strain gradually
increased over time. LA contraction strain significantly improved from the second
to the third assessment. We found a correlation between the LA reservoir strain and
NT-proBNP (r = 0.40, p < 0.05). DD is prevalent immediately after HTX but rare until
the end of the first postoperative quarter. Speckle tracking analysis enables the
characterization of LA phasic functions that may reflect both short- and long-term
changes in diastolic function and correlate with NT-proBNP.
