3D speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) is a new technique in the assessment of several heart diseases. We aim to delineate the effect of arterial hypertension (HTN) on left ventricle (LV) through a STI study.

We studied 31 HTN patients and 30 age-matched healthy volunteers. The main exclusion criteria were atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, severe valvular heart diseases and liver or kidney dysfunction. Therefore, each subject underwent an echocardiogram with 3D-STI and serum NTproBNP was determined.

Among HTN patients, near 55% were women. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 149,6±17 and 89±10mmHg (vs. 119,7±7 and 77,6±6mmHg; p<0,0001). Mean LV mass was 116±19g/m ² which was significantly higher than healthy subjects (75±18g/m ²; p<0,0001). LV hypertrophy was predominantly concentric in 23 patients.

Only 6 HTN patients had eccentric LV hypertrophy. NTproBNP was greater in HTN patients (31,3 vs. 13 ng/ml; p=0,01). 3D LV peak longitudinal strain (3D-PSLG) was lower in HTN group (–14±2 vs. –19±2; p<0,0001). PSLG was correlated significantly with age (R=0,33; p=0,009), systolic mean blood pressure (R=0,55; p<0,0001) and the mean period of HTN history (R=0,38; p=0,032). There was a significant positive correlation between 3DPSLG and E/Ea ratio (R=0,50, p<0,0001). In the other hand, both of them LVmass and relative wall thickness (RWT) were also associated with 3DPSLG (R=0,60 and 0,74 respectively; p<0,0001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that RWT was the only factor strongly correlated to 3D-PSLG (β=0,54; p=0,002).

3D-STI is a useful technique in the assessment of hypertensive heart disease. This study highlighted the relation between LV concentric geometry (RWT) and PSLG.