Assessment of Myocardial Function by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Acute stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Myocardial injury is an important complication of acute cerebrovascular events. Neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy (NSC) is a condition of acute myocardial systolic dysfunction that can be observed after acute cerebrovascular events. Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between myocardial function assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study screened 97 patients (males, 42; females, 55; 65 +/- 16 years) with acute ischemic stroke. Around 17 patients were excluded and 80 patients were studied. Patients were divided into two groups based on the calculated NIHSS score (Group 1, NIHSS score <16; Group 2, NIHSS score >= 16). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data for all patients were collected. Cardiac function was evaluated by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography within 48 h of admission to the neurology care unit. Results: There were no significant differences in the demographic parameters of patients. The absolute value of global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) was significantly higher in Group 1 patients than in Group 2 patients (21.4 +/- 2.2 vs 15.9 +/- 2.7, P = 0.0281). We found that thirteen patients (22%) had normal LVEF and abnormal LV GLS in Group 1 (P = 0.036). Eight patients (36%) had normal LVEF and abnormal LV GLS in Group 2 (P = 0.042). E/e', QT on ECG, and serum troponin levels were significantly higher in Group 2 patients than in Group 1 patients (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that GLS is associated with stroke severity on admission in patients with acute ischemic stroke. GLS is an indicator of myocardial deformation with a different from LVEF. GLS can detect early myocardial dysfunction despite preserved LVEF.