Left Ventricular Contraction-Relaxation Coupling in Normal, Hypertrophic, and Failing Myocardium Quantified by Speckle-Tracking Global Strain and Strain Rate Imaging

Global LV function quantified using speckle-tracking echocardiography revealed strong coupling of LV contraction to relaxation sequentially from normal to failing myocardium, regardless of their heterogeneous pathophysiology. In addition, the extent of myocardial systolic shortening was the most powerful independent contributor of LV relaxation in both the longitudinal and circumferential directions. These results strongly indicate that LV myocardial systolic contraction directly regulates its relaxation.