Improvement of left ventricular myocardial short-axis, but not long-axis function or torsion after cardiac resynchronisation therapy: an assessment by two-dimensional speckle tracking

Aims:To evaluate whether short-axis function plays a part in determining left ventricular (LV) geometric and functional improvement after cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT).Methods and results:39 patients who received CRT were enrolled. 2D speckle tracking echocardiography was performed at baseline and three months after CRT to assess mean systolic circumferential (ϵ-circum), radial (ϵ-radial) and longitudinal (ϵ-long) strain and torsion. Responders of reverse remodelling (n = 21) had higher baseline mean ϵ-circum than non-responders (p