INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICINE ORIGINAL ARTICLE Cardiology http://dx.doi.org/10.21103/Article11(4)_OA1 International Journal of Biomedicine 11(4) (2021) 403-409 Assessment of Left Ventricle Myocardial Function in Hypertensive Patients Using Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography (3D-STE) Shima Ibrahim Ali 1* ; Awadia Gareeballah 1,2 ; Rihab Ali Yousif 1 ; Ahmed Abdelrahim Mohammed 1 ; Marwa Hussain Mohammed 1 ; Raga Ahmed Abouraida 1 ; Mingxing XIE 3 1 Faculty of Radiological Sciences and Medical Imaging, Alzaiem Alazhari University Khartoum North, Sudan 2 Department of Diagnostic Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawara, Saudi Arabia 3 Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China Abstract Background: Increased myocardial fbrosis in hypertension leads to abnormalities in left ventricular diastolic function. 3D-speckle-tracking imaging (3D-STI) is a primary imaging modality used to detect early changes in the left ventricle (LV). The aim of this study was to assess the left ventricular myocardial function in hypertensive patients using 3D-speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI). Methods and Results: A case control, nonintervention, descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis of Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, Hubei, China). The study subjects included 64 patients with hypertension (HT) and, as control group, 44 normotensives. HT patients were divided into HT-I group (SBP of 130-139 mmHg or DBP of 80-89 mmHg, and HT-II group (SBP >140 mmHg or DBP >90 mmHg). In this study, LV geometry and function were assessed using conventional 2D- and 3D-echocardiography in a total of 108 consecutive subjects. LV volumes, global and regional strains were measured using 3D-STI. LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was in normal range in three groups, but in general, it slightly decreased in HT-II patients, compared with control and HT-I groups (62.5±2.1%, 68.0±2.2%, and 67.5±1.3%, respectively, P=0.00). Global systolic strain demonstrated a signifcant decrease in GLS, GCS, and GRS in the HT-II group, compared with control and HT-I groups. All regional strain parameters (longitudinal, circumferential, and radial) signifcantly decreased in HT-II patients, compared with control and HT-I groups. Conclusion: A signifcant deterioration of global LV systolic functions is found in hypertensive patients with well-preserved LVEF, especially in patients with hypertension stage II.(International Journal of Biomedicine. 2021;11(4):403-409.) Key Words: hypertension • left ventricle • speckle tracking • global strain • regional strain For citation: Ali ShI, Gareeballah A, Yousif RA, Mohammed AA, Mohammed MH, Abouraida RA, XIE M. Assessment of Left Ventricle Myocardial Function in Hypertensive Patients Using Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography (3D-STE). International Journal of Biomedicine. 2021;11(4):403-409. doi:10.21103/Article11(4)_OA1 Abbreviations 3D-STE, three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography; 3D-STI, three-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging; ASE, American Society of Echocardiography; BP, blood pressure; BSA, body surface area; DBP, diastolic BP; EDV, end-diastolic velocity; GLS, global longitudinal strain; GCS, global circumferential strain; GRS, global radial strain; HT, hypertension; IVSd, interventricular septal thickness; LAd, left atrial dimension; LV, left ventricle; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LVEDV, left ventricular end-diastolic volume; LVESV, left ventricular end-systolic volume; LDEDd, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy; LVM, left ventricular mass; LVMI, LVM index; LVSV, left ventricular stroke volume; PWT, posterior wall thickness; RWT, relative wall thickness; SBP, systolic BP; SR, strain rate; SSR, systolic strain rate; SV, systolic velocity.