Is relative apical sparing of longitudinal strain using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography sensitive and specific for diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis?
Relative apical sparing of longitudinal strain on 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography is an accurate and reproducible marker for diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis.
CA is characterised by regional variations in LS from base to apex. A relative 'apical sparing' pattern of LS is an easily recognisable, accurate and reproducible method of differentiating CA from other causes of LV hypertrophy.
Phelan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.