OS094. Subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in preeclamptic women with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: A 2D speckle tracking imaging study

Introduction Patients with preeclampsia are at risk for cardiovascular disease [1,2]. Changes in cardiac function are subtle in preeclampsia and are quantitatively difficult with conventional imaging. Strain measurements using speckle-tracking echocardiography have been used to sensitively quantifyabnormalities in other disease settings [3]. Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in myocardial strain using speckle tracking echocardiography in women with and without preeclampsia. We hypothesized that global left systolic strain measures would prove more sensitive than conventional left ventricular ejection fraction in detecting early changes in systolic LV function manifesting as subclinical disease prior to overt progression. Methods We evaluated the feasibility and sensitivity of strain imaging using speckle tracking echocardiography. Thirty-six women were enrolled in this pilot study; 28 were analyzed: 11 with preeclampsia and 17 without preeclampsia. Echocardiographic Ejection fraction and global peak longitudinal ,radial and circumferential strain were measured. Results Global Median longitudinal strain was significantly worsened in women with preeclampsia compared to women without preeclampsia ( P P =0.006) and circumferential strain ( P =0.03). There was no significant difference in ejection fraction between the groups ( P =0.52) (Table 1). Data are presented as median (interquartile range). Conclusion Myocardial strain imaging using speckle tracking is more sensitive than left ventricular ejection fraction to detect differences in left ventricular systolic function in women with and without preeclampsia.