Mechanical dyssynchrony and diastolic dysfunction are common in LVH: a pilot correlation study using Doppler echocardiography and CZT gated-SPECT MPI

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an often under-diagnosed cause of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). It affects 1/500 of the population, is the most commonly inherited cardiovascular disorder, and can present in apical, concentric, or septal forms. Although most patients are asymptomatic, sudden cardiac death can be the initial presentation of HCM. By retrospectively enrolling patients suspected of having three different types of HCM in the absence of epicardial coronary stenosis, we aimed to examine systolic and diastolic dysfunction and perfusion abnormalities using both Doppler echocardiography and state-of-the-art gated single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with a cadmium-zinc-telluride camera and thallium-201. Both regional perfusion and gated SPECT parameters were collected in addition to diastolic parameters from Doppler echocardiography. The results showed that mild ischemia was common in patients suspected of having HCM, with a mean summed stress score of 4.7 ± 4.9 (score 0–4 in 17-segment model). The patients with HCM were associated with discernible left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony, especially those with the apical form. In addition, diastolic dysfunction was prevalent and early to late ventricular filling velocity ratios were significantly different between groups. By combining gated-MPI and Doppler data, the trivial functional changes in HCM may be identified.