Editorial Type:
Cardiovascular System

Variability among strain variables derived from two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in dogs by use of various software

Giorgia Santarelli 1Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
2Cardiopulmonary Service, Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus, EH25 9RG Roslin, Scotland.

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Marco Baron Toaldo 3Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy.
4Division of Cardiology, Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.

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Jonathan Bouvard 2Cardiopulmonary Service, Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus, EH25 9RG Roslin, Scotland.

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Tony M. Glaus 4Division of Cardiology, Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.

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Josefa Fernández del Palacio 1Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.80.4.347
Volume/Issue:
Volume 80: Issue 4
Online Publication Date:
01 Apr 2019
Restricted access
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To determine variability of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate (SR) measurements in dogs with and without cardiac disease derived from 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) by use of various software.

ANIMALS

2 cohorts comprising 44 dogs (23 cardiovascularly healthy and 21 with cardiac disease) and 40 dogs (18 cardiovascularly healthy and 22 with cardiac disease).

PROCEDURES

Transthoracic echocardiographic images in each cohort were analyzed with vendor-independent software and vendor-specific 2-D STE software for each of 2 vendors. Values for GLS and SR obtained from the same left parasternal apical views with various software were compared. Intraobserver and interobserver variability was determined, and agreement among results for the various software was assessed.

RESULTS

Strain analysis was not feasible with vendor-independent software for 20% of images obtained with the ultrasonography system of vendor 1. Intraobserver and interobserver coefficient of variation was < 10% for GLS values, whereas SR measurements had higher variance. There was a significant difference in GLS and SR obtained for each cohort with different software. Evaluation of Bland-Altman plots revealed wide limits of agreement, with variance for GLS of up to 6.3 units in a single dog.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results of longitudinal strain analysis were not uniform among software, and GLS was the most reproducible measurement. Significant variability in results among software warrants caution when referring to reference ranges or comparing serial measurements in the same patient because changes of < 6.5% in GLS might be within measurement error for different postprocessing software.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To determine variability of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate (SR) measurements in dogs with and without cardiac disease derived from 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) by use of various software.

ANIMALS

2 cohorts comprising 44 dogs (23 cardiovascularly healthy and 21 with cardiac disease) and 40 dogs (18 cardiovascularly healthy and 22 with cardiac disease).

PROCEDURES

Transthoracic echocardiographic images in each cohort were analyzed with vendor-independent software and vendor-specific 2-D STE software for each of 2 vendors. Values for GLS and SR obtained from the same left parasternal apical views with various software were compared. Intraobserver and interobserver variability was determined, and agreement among results for the various software was assessed.

RESULTS

Strain analysis was not feasible with vendor-independent software for 20% of images obtained with the ultrasonography system of vendor 1. Intraobserver and interobserver coefficient of variation was < 10% for GLS values, whereas SR measurements had higher variance. There was a significant difference in GLS and SR obtained for each cohort with different software. Evaluation of Bland-Altman plots revealed wide limits of agreement, with variance for GLS of up to 6.3 units in a single dog.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results of longitudinal strain analysis were not uniform among software, and GLS was the most reproducible measurement. Significant variability in results among software warrants caution when referring to reference ranges or comparing serial measurements in the same patient because changes of < 6.5% in GLS might be within measurement error for different postprocessing software.

Contributor Notes

Address correspondence to Dr. Santarelli (Giorgia.Santarelli@ed.ac.uk).
Cover American Journal of Veterinary Research
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Publication Date:
01 Apr 2019

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