Myocardial Strain and Dyssynchrony: Incremental Value?

Heart failure (HF) has evolved in an epidemic manner and constitutes a major public health issue. Currently, several prognostic markers and treatment options exist to guide treatment of HF with reduced ejection fraction, but echocardiographic deformation imaging suggests novel pathophysiologic aspects that could help optimize treatment further. Even though no formal treatment options currently exist for patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction, some HF medication does seem to attenuate strain measures. Speckle tracking has furthermore helped characterize this condition and to confer prognostic information. Thus, strain imaging could facilitate novel trials, and thereby hopefully introduce treatment opportunities.