Role of 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis instable angina pectoris patients

Background and methods: In this work, 120 patients suspected of having stable angina pectoris were included. They were presented for evaluation of chest pain and to whom clinical evaluation, echocardiography, nuclear scanning and coronary angiography were done. They were classified into group (A) 40 control patients considered as a control group with normal coronaries, and group (B) 80 patients with significant CAD.   Results: The study showed that regarding the Echo. Parameters, there were statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the A wave, E/A ration, DT, Em and E/EM. Also regarding SLSS and GLS 17 and GLS 12 as well as SLSr, GLSr 17 and GLSr 12. Significant difference was present regarding number of vessels affected in regard to GLS 12, GLSr 12 and GLSr 17. In comparison with the results of MPI, there was a positive correlation between the number of segments affected in MPI and GLS 12 and GLSr 12. A statistically significant correlation was also found between the 17 segments in MPI and SLSS and SLSr parameters.   Conclusion: Myocardial strain by speckle tracking is superior to conventional Echo. Parameters measurements of global and segmental LS using 2DSE and it is a more sensitive tool in the identification of WMA at rest than visual analysis and that support its use to risk stratify atherosclerotic CAD. It may help in identifying which coronary artery is affected.