Longitudinal 2D strain can help diagnose coronary artery disease in patients with suspected non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome but apparent normal global and segmental systolic function.

BACKGROUND: The clinical work-up of patients presenting with chest pain is a diagnostic challenge. We investigated the diagnostic performance of global (GLS) and territorial (TLS) longitudinal strain to predict coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients presenting with suspected non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) but apparent normal global and regional systolic function.

METHODS: 150 consecutive suspected NSTE-ACS patients were initially screened for inclusion ; 58 patients with normal LVEF (≥55%) and WMSI (=1) were prospectively enrolled. Speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed on admission and all the patients underwent coronary angiography. CAD was defined as the presence of stenosis of >50%.

RESULTS: CAD was present in 33 patients (57%). LVEF was 60.7±4.6% in group 1 (CAD) and 61.1±5.0% in group 2 (no CAD). Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was altered in group 1 (-16.7±3.4%) as compared to group 2 (-22.4±2.9%, p<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed a high diagnostic value of GLS for the prediction of CAD (AUC=0.92 [0.84-1.00], p=0.0001). TLS was able to discriminate between coronary stenosis in the LAD, LCX or RCA.

CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal 2D strain has a good diagnostic value and can efficiently localize the culprit lesion in patients presenting with NSTE-ACS but apparent normal global and regional systolic function.