Comparative left ventricular mechanical deformation in acute apical variant stress cardiomyopathy and acute anterior myocardial infarction utilizing 2‐dimensional longitudinal strain imaging

AIMS: Despite three decades of study, it is still challenging to discriminate acute apical variant stress cardiomyopathy (AVSCM) from acute left anterior descending-myocardial infarction (LAD-MI) at the time of presentation. A biomarker or practical imaging modality that can differentiate these two entities is highly desirable. Our objective was to characterize left ventricular (LV) mechanical deformation using 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic strain imaging in an attempt to discriminate AVSCM from LAD-MI at presentation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 108 women (60 AVSCM, 48 ST segment elevation LAD-MI). All underwent echocardiography within 48 hours of presentation. 2D longitudinal strain (LS) from an 18-segment LV model was performed, with global LS (GLS) taken as the average of all 18 segments. GLS was abnormal, but did not differentiate AVSCM from LAD-MI. Mean LS of the basal and mid-anterior, basal, and mid-anteroseptum segments were significantly lower in LAD-MI vs AVSCM group (-14 ± 9% vs -20 ± 8%; -11 ± 7% vs -14 ± 6%; -9 ± 8% vs -14 ± 8%; -9 ± 7% vs -13 ± 5%, respectively, all P ≤ .05). Mean LS of the basal inferior and inferolateral segments was significantly higher in the LAD-MI vs. AVSCM group (-19 ± 9% vs -13 ± 7%; -23 ± 11% vs -18 ± 7%, respectively, all P ≤ .05). Using ROC curve analysis, segmental strain ratio of average basal inferior and inferolateral segments LS to average mid- and basal anterior and anteroseptum segments LS of ≥1.58 was 90% specific for LAD-MI [area under the curve (AUC) 0.87; P < .001]. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal strain patterns are useful in discriminating AVSCM from LAD-MI patients at presentation and may be valuable in stratifying patients for invasive evaluation.