Analysis of Left Ventricular Regional Dyssynchrony: Comparison between Real Time 3D Echocardiography and Tissue Doppler Imaging

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of information concerning left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony assessment by real time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (RT3DE) versus tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). AIMS: To compare RT3DE and TDI LV dyssynchrony assessment. METHODS: A prospective study of 92 individuals (56 men, age 47 +/- 10 years), 32 with dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP), and 60 healthy individuals. By RT3DE, we measured the LV% dyssynchrony index (DI) of 6, 12, and 16 segments (SDI). By pulsed-wave TDI, we measured the QS electromechanical interval in the basal segments of the mitral valve annulus of the septum, the lateral, anterior and inferior walls, and the TDI% DI. RESULTS: In the normal group, the 3D DI was 1.1 +/- 0.8%, 1.4 +/- 1.3%, 1.8 +/- 1.7%, for 6 segments, 12 segments, and SDI, respectively. The correlation coefficient (Pearson's r) for the TDI DI and SDI was r = 0.2381 (P = 0.0470). In CMP group, the 3D DI was 4.6 +/- 5.4%, 7.9 +/- 7.1%, 11.1 +/- 7.1%, for 6 segments, 12 segments, and SDI, respectively. The correlation coefficient for TDI DI and SDI was r = 0.7838 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a good correlation between RT3DE and tissue Doppler LV dyssynchrony assessment in patients with advanced heart failure.