PhD Scientific Days 2025

Poster Session III. - V: Cardiovascular Medicine and Research

The role of contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of excessive left ventricular trabeculation

Name of the presenter

Farkas-Sütő Kristóf Attila

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Semmelweis University, Heart and Vascular Center

Authors

Dr. Kristóf Farkas-Sütő¹, Flóra Gyulánczi¹, Dr. Balázs Mester¹, Prof. Dr. Hajnalka Vágó¹, Prof. Dr. Béla Merkely¹

1: Semmelweis University, Heart and Vascular Center

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Cardiac MRI (CMR) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of left ventricular excessive trabeculation (LVET), whereas echocardiography (Echo) is limited in its ability to accurately assess the extent of trabeculation and often does not lead to a definitive diagnosis. Contrast Echo (C-Ec) provides a more accurate visualization of the trabecular system, but we do not have established diagnostic criteria yet.
Aims: Thus, we aimed to determine the role of C-Echo in the diagnostics of LVET: to assess the differences between non-contrast Echo (N-Echo) and C-Echo imaging modalities; and to compare the volumetric and functional parameters and the extent of trabeculation between an LVET and a control (K) population .
Methods: We included 26 LVET individuals with preserved systolic function and free of comorbidities (EF>50%, 40±18 years; 15 women) and 26 age and sex-matched healthy K subjects (40±17 years; 15 women). We determined the volumetric and functional parameters on the 3 imaging modalities, calculated trabecular mass on CMR, and measured the trabecular (trab_area) and left ventricular (LV_area) areas on C-Echo recordings.
Results: When comparing modalities, while the volumes differed significantly between N-Echo and C-Echo in both groups, the EF showed a significant difference between the modalities only in the LVET population. Comparing the two populations, while the EF was significantly lower in the LVET group, the trab_area was significantly higher and correlated well with trabecular mass measured by CMR. A diagnostic cut-off value was determined for the average (AUC: 0.96; cut-off: 17%; sensitivity: 0.88; specificity: 0.92) and maximum (AUC: 0.95; cut-off: 20%; sensitivity: 0.92; specificity: 0.96) values of the trab_area/LV_area ratio using C-Echo.
Conclusion: The use of C-Echo may assist in not only the morphological but the quantitative assessment of LVET as well. The trab_area/LV_area ratio may be a good additional factor in the risk stratification of LVET.
Funding: SE250+, TKP2021-NKTA-46

Email address: farkas.kristof@stud.semmelweis.hu
University: Semmelweis University
Supervisor: Dr. Andrea Szűcs Ph.D.