Assessment of left ventricular systolic function in patients with iron deficiency anemia by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography

OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) by 3 dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE). METHODS Participants were grouped by hemoglobin (Hb) levels in order to study the effect of anemia on cardiac function. Group A included 40 healthy volunteers. Eighty-three patients who were diagnosed with IDA were divided into 2 groups according to the Hb level. Group B (Hb 9 g/dL) included 44 patients, while group C (Hb 6-9 g/dL) included 39 patients. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular endsystolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were calculated by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3D). Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), global area strain (GAS), global radial strain (GRS), and global circumferential strain (GCS) were obtained by 3DSTE. RESULTS LVMI, LVEDV and LVESV of group C increased and GCS, GRS, GLS, and GAS of group C decreased compared with those of groups A and B (all p<0.05). GAS and GLS decreased significantly compared with other parameters (both p<0.01). CONCLUSION LV remodeling and LV systolic dysfunction occurred in patients when the hemoglobin level was in the range of 6-9 g/dL. 3DSTE can evaluate LV systolic function in patients with IDA, and GAS and GLS are more sensitive than other parameters.