Impact of sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors on left atrial functions in patients with type-2 diabetes and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction

Background: We aimed to assess the impact of adding sodium glucose co-transporters-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2I) on cardiac remodeling in type 2 diabetic patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) that had been under-represented in most clinical trials through the analysis of left atrial (LA) phasic functions with 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D- STE Methods: We enrolled 70 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and stable HFmrEF (35 patients received one of SGLT-2I either empagliflozin or dapagliflozin). Laboratory assessment and echocardiographic evaluation were carried out at baseline and after 6 months. LA volumes and deformation analysis were conducted using 2D-STE. Three LA strain parameters were obtained (LA reservoir strain, contractile strain, and conduit strain). Results: After 6 months of SGLT-2 I treatment, there was better control of HbA1C and improvement of diastolic functions (E/e′ ratio and LAV-I significantly decreased. P < 0.001*). LVGLS increased, LA functions and all LA strain curve values improved, LA reservoir increased from 17.3 ± 2.0 to 23.8 ± 3.6, LA conduit from 11.0 ± 2.2 to 13.7 ± 2.8 and LA contractile from 6.5 ± 1.4 to 10.5 ± 2.6, P < 0.001* for all. Changes in LA strain values were significantly associated with the changes in LVGLS, LAEF %, E/ e′ ratio, and LAV-I. Conclusion: Adding SGLT-2I to existing guideline-directed medical therapy in patients with T2DM and HFmrEF is associated with favorable clinical outcomes and significant improvement of LA volume and functions, with further improvement of LV diastolic and longitudinal functions

Detection of right ventricular dysfunction by three – dimensional echocardiography and two - dimensional speckle tracking in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline- based chemotherapy

Abstract Background Despite the cardiotoxic effect of anthracycline on the left ventricle (LV) was totally identified. The assessment of the anthracycline effect on the right ventricle(RV) by conventional echocardiography was a challenge due to its complex geometry. We aimed to evaluate the impact of anthracycline on the RV volume and function using 3 dimensional –echocardiography (3DE) and 2 dimensional -speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in patients with breast cancer. Methods This prospective study was conducted on 66 female patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline chemotherapy, in addition to full echocardiography, 2D-STE and 3DE evaluation of RV function and volume were done at baseline, after 4th cycle of chemotherapy, six and nine months after the end of chemotherapy. Results Cardiotoxicity from anthracycline occurred in 18 patients whose LV ejection fraction became significantly reduced after 9 months of therapy according to that, the patients were divided into the non-cardiotoxic group (n:48) and the cardiotoxic group (n:18). At cardiotoxic group, 3D RV end-systolic volume, and 3D RV end-diastolic volume increased significantly at 6 months and continued till 9 months after the therapy end compared to baseline values (42.50 ± 5.98 vs. 50.44 ± 7.01, p = 0.005) and (86.78 ± 9.16 vs. 95.78 ± 9.23, p = 0.021).LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) showed a significant reduction early after 6 months of therapy, 2D GLS and free wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) of RV were significantly decreased at 6 months and continued till 9 months after therapy (-22.54 ± 0.79 vs. -19.53 ± 1.32, p = 0.001) and (-24.67 ± 1.27vs. -22.22 ± 1.41, p = 0.001) respectively. The variation of RV FWLS was a predictor of cardiotoxicity, the relative drop of RV FWLS > 19.3% had 83% sensitivity and 71% specificity, (AUC = 0.82) to identify patients who developed cardiotoxicity. Conclusion 3DE is a promising modality in recognizing the early changes in RV volumes and minute alteration in RV function and 2D-STE is a reliable predictor of RV systolic dysfunction which identify the subclinical affliction