ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) using speckle tracking echocardiography.
METHODS: We evaluated 100 patients with pure rheumatic MS who were compared with 50 healthy individuals of matched age, gender, and risk factors. We assessed the mitral valve area (MVA) using planimetry and the mean transmitral pressure gradient; then the patients were classified into 2 groups according to MVA. The first group included severe MS patients and the second group included those with moderate MS. Speckle tracking echocardiography was used to assess LV subclinical systolic dysfunction.
RESULTS: There was no significant statistical difference between the groups regarding clinical data and LVEF. Global LV longitudinal strain was significantly lower in MS patients. Both global basal and mid segments strain were significantly lower in patients with MS (P