Recent advances in echocardiography, including shear wave elastography and time-harmonic elastography, offer promising non-invasive alternatives to invasive procedures for evaluating myocardial stiffness.
Myocardial stiffness is a key determinant of cardiac function. So far, its assessment required invasive methods such as pressure-volume loop measurements or mechanical testing of tissue biopsies, which are both not suited for daily clinical use. However, recent advances in echocardiography offer promising non-invasive alternatives. Initial clinical studies in different pathologies are encouraging and indicate a huge potential of these new ultrasound-based techniques for evaluating myocardial stiffness. In this review, we explain the concept of myocardial stiffness, explore the most promising ultrasound techniques currently available for its evaluation, and discuss key insights from recent clinical research in the field.
Wouters et al. (Tue,) conducted a review in Myocardial stiffness. Echocardiographic methods (Shear wave elastography, Time-harmonic elastography) vs. Invasive methods (pressure-volume loop measurements, tissue biopsies) was evaluated. Recent advances in echocardiography, including shear wave elastography and time-harmonic elastography, offer promising non-invasive alternatives to invasive procedures for evaluating myocardial stiffness.