Author(s): Fatemeh Kamalipour, Nadia Sharifi, Alireza Akhavein, Hakimeh Sadeghian, Arash Jalali
Introduction: To compare left ventricular torsion, rotation, twist, and circumferential strain in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) as compared to normal subjects. Materials/Methods: In this study 23 patients with LBBB and 14 normal subjects were enrolled. In short-axis view of the left ventricle, basal, midportion, apical and global circumferential strain were measured by off-line analysis. The basal, midportion and apical LV segments rotation were measured and subsequently, in both groups, LV twist and torsion were calculated. Results: The mean LVEF in the LBBB group was significantly lower than the normal group. The basal, midportion and global circumferential strain(GCS) were significantly lower in patients with LBBB as compared to normal subjects. The mean LV apical rotation in the LBBB group was significantly lower than the normal group ( -0.28±1.59 vs 0.78 ± 2.59 vs) and P was 0.04. As compared with normal subjects, the mean basal and midportion LV rotation in LBBB patients had no significant difference. LV torsion was lower in LBBB compared to the normal group but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: LV apical rotation was significantly lower in the LBBB group compared to normal. Global, basal, and midportion circumferential strain were lower in LBBB than normal subjects.