Evaluation of left ventricle function with global longitudinal strain before and after percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) functions with global longitudinal strain (GLS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and to show the relationship of GLS change with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count. Methods: Twenty-one patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) with the diagnosis of NSTE-ACS and who had complete revascularization with PCI were included in the study. Control biochemistry, basic transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings, global and regional strain values, and demographic data of the patients were recorded before and 3 months after PCI. After PCI, the number of TIMI frames in the culprit artery was calculated. Baseline and control data were compared. The relationship of GLS change with TIMI frame count was also evaluated as subgroup analysis. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the control GLS and regional strain values of the patients compared to the baseline evaluation. The mean baseline GLS was -16.4±2.5%, and the control GLS was -18.1±2.6%. There was a statistically significant improvement in control GLS (p=0.001). The mean baseline EF was 50.2±8.4%, and the control EF was 53±8.3%, which is one of the basic TTE findings of the patients. There was a statistically borderline increase in control EF (p=0.05). In subgroup analysis, there was no relationship between GLS change and TIMI frame count. Conclusion: Statistically significant improvement was observed in control GLS compared to baseline in NSTE-ACS patients who complete revascularization with PCI. There was no significant correlation between this improvement and the TIMI frame count.