Zahra Ojaghi-Haghighi - Echocardiography Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Azin Alizadehasl - Echocardiography Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Atoosa Mostafavi - Echocardiography Research Center, Shariati Medical and Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hassan Moladoust - Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Nasim Naderi - Department of Heart Failure and Transplantation, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Feridoun Noohi - Echocardiography Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Majid Maleki - Echocardiography Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Vahid Nikseresht - Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

Introduction Left ventricular (LV) twist is believed to store potential energy and plays an important role in generating diastolic suction. Recent advances in echocardiography techniques have allowed quantification of LV twist. The aim of the present study was to compare LV twist and torsion in healthy human subjects determined by velocity vector imaging (VVI) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) at rest. Materials and Methods All volunteers (۷۲ healthy subjects) underwent complete echocardiographic study and LV torsional parameters were assessed using VVI or TDI methods. LV rotation at apical and basal short-axis levels was calculated throughout cardiac cycle and LV twist was defined as net difference between rotation angles of the two levels. The LV torsion was calculated as the LV twist divided by the LV end-diastolic length. Results Twist degree was significantly lower in the VVI group than the TDI group (۱۱.۴±۲.۴º vs.۱۴.۱±۳.۰º, p<۰.۰۰۱), but when LV twist was normalized by LV end-diastolic length, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (۱.۹±۰.۷ º/cm vs. ۲.۱±۰.۶ º/cm, p=۰.۱۴۲). Conclusion Normalized LV twist or LV torsion values were comparable for both imaging techniques (TDI and VVI methods). Results suggest that these methods may be interchanged for serial assessment, but needs additional studies and preferably larger populations to confirm it.

echocardiography, Left ventricle, Torsion