Strain rate imaging by ultrasonography in the diagnosis of coronary arterydisease

Regional strain rate in the left ventricle can be assessed in real time and color mapped. The method is termed strain rate imaging (SRI), and findings correspond well with 2-dimensional echocardiography. This study addresses SRI as a method for localizing coronary lesions, compared with standard ech ocardiography. Twenty patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwe nt coronary angiography for clinical reasons were examined with SRI and sta ndard echocardiography. Wall motion was graded by SRI color and separately by wall thickening. Strain rate imaging and 2-dimensional echocardiography results agreed well. An infarct-related artery was identified from angiogra ms combined with electrocardiograms. Both methods identified an infarct-rel ated artery in 19 possible cases and had equal sensitivity and specificity for wall segments affected by lesion. Combining the information from both m ethods did not change accuracy. The study validates SRI as a method for ass essing regional wall function in coronary artery disease. The advantages of SRI are discussed and measurements of strain rates are given.