Assessment of left ventricular function in horses with aortic regurgitation by 2D speckle tracking.
Authors: Decloedt A, Ven S, De Clercq D, Rademakers F, van Loon G
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Aortic regurgitation is a common cardiac condition in horses that can progress to left ventricular dilatation and heart failure, yet detecting early myocardial dysfunction before clinical decompensation remains challenging in clinical practice. Researchers used two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography to evaluate myocardial function in 57 Warmblood horses with chronic aortic regurgitation against 29 healthy controls, measuring radial, circumferential, and longitudinal strain parameters across the left ventricular wall. The speckle tracking technique successfully identified altered strain values in horses with aortic regurgitation, demonstrating that these subtle contractile changes precede the gross structural changes (such as chamber dilatation) visible on conventional echocardiography. Because speckle tracking can detect early functional deterioration before clinical signs of decompensation develop, this imaging modality offers equine veterinarians a more sensitive tool for monitoring disease progression and making informed decisions about exercise restriction and management in affected horses. For practitioners managing horses with diagnosed aortic regurgitation, access to speckle tracking analysis could substantially improve the precision and timing of clinical recommendations.
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Practical Takeaways
- •2D speckle tracking offers a diagnostic tool to monitor horses with aortic regurgitation and detect early signs of cardiac dysfunction before clinical decompensation occurs
- •Regular echocardiographic assessment using this technique can help determine when affected horses should be retired or have activity restricted
- •Early detection of myocardial dysfunction changes may improve management decisions and outcomes for horses with AR
Key Findings
- •2D speckle tracking successfully detected altered myocardial function in horses with chronic aortic regurgitation compared to healthy controls
- •Radial, circumferential, and longitudinal strain parameters were measurable across left ventricular segments in 86 Warmblood horses
- •This imaging technique enables non-invasive assessment of cardiac decompensation progression in horses with AR