Left Ventricular Strain and Rotation by 2-D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Identify Early Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy

This study assessed whether 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) derived from left ventricular (LV) strain and rotation is capable of detecting LV dysfunction associated with alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Ninety-two male chronic alcoholic patients were grouped by alcohol intake amount and duration: mild (n = 30; >90 mg ethanol daily, 3-5 d per wk for 5-8 y); moderate (n = 30; >90-150 mg ethanol daily, 3-5 d per wk for 9-20 y); and severe (n = 32; >150 mg ethanol daily, 6-7 d per wk for >10 y). Thirty non-drinkers were recruited as healthy controls. Rotation and twist values were lower in the severe group compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). The moderate and severe alcohol groups demonstrated lower longitudinal, circumferential and radial strain values and early to late filling (E/A) ratios compared with the mild group and non-drinkers (all p < 0.05). 2-D STE-derived strain and rotation are reliable echocardiographic markers for detecting left ventricular dysfunction in patients at risk of developing alcoholic cardiomyopathy.