Speckle tracking deformation imaging to detect regional fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a comparison between 2D and 3D echo modalities

Abstract Aims We aimed at directly comparing three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) deformation parameters in hypertrophic hearts and depict which may best reflect underlying fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), defined by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods and results We included 40 HCM [54.1 ± 14.3 years, 82.5% male, maximum wall thickness (MWT) 19.3 ± 4.8 mm] and 15 hypertensive (HTN) patients showing myocardial hypertrophy (58.1 ± 15.6 years, 80% male, MWT 12.8 ± 1.4 mm) who have consecutively undergone 2D-, 3D-speckle tracking echocardiography and LGE CMR. Deformation parameters (2D and 3D) presented overall poor to moderate correlations, with 3D_longitudinal strain (LS) and 3D_circumferential strain (CS) values being constantly higher compared to 2D derivatives. By regression analysis, hypertrophy substrate (HCM vs. hypertension) and hypertrophy magnitude were the parameters to influence 2D–3D LS and CS strain correlations (R2 = 0.66, P