Cardiovascular research institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal 1735-3955 12 6 2016 11 01 Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome: A case–control study using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography 254 258 10552 EN Alireza Moaref Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Majid Faraji Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Maryam Tahamtan Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Journal Article 2015 10 06 BACKGROUND: The dramatic increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is associated with more increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this group. Some recent studies suggested that metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk of subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. In the present cross-sectional case–control study, the utility of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) was examined to detect early LV systolic dysfunction in this population. METHODS: A total of 75 clinically asymptomatic subjects with LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 55%, 39 without metabolic syndrome and 36 with metabolic syndrome, matched for gender and age, were enrolled in this case–control study. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. LV systolic function was assessed by STE-derived global and segmental longitudinal strain (εLL). RESULTS: Global εLL was significantly lower in patients with metabolic syndrome compared with normal population (−18.41 ± 2.20% vs. −21.2 ± 2.1%, P < 0.001). Segmental εLL was significantly lower in patients with metabolic syndrome in comparison to control group except for basal anteroseptal (−19.95 ± 2.90% vs. −21.15 ± 3.30%, P = 0.106), basal anterolateral (−17.5 ± 5.0% vs. −18.3 ± 4.1%, P = 0.437), and basal inferolateral segments (−18.1 ± 6.3% vs. −18.9 ± 4.1%, P = 0.526). CONCLUSION: STE-derived longitudinal LV strain (εLL), a marker of subclinical cardiovascular disease, is impaired in asymptomatic individuals with metabolic syndrome and normal LVEF.    https://arya.mui.ac.ir/article_10552_c4a981880e538a69cf3c60d98a6f2a65.pdf