Acoustic Contrast Imaging of Myocardium for Evaluating Microcirculation in Hypertensive Hypertrophic Myocardium

Yin Zheyu; Gu Yu; Zhao Caifeng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-5775.2025.24.018

Abstract：Objective:To investigate the value of myocardial microcirculation in the semi-quantitative assessment of hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy using myocardial acoustic contrast imaging.Methods:32 patients diagnosed with primary hypertension who presented with left ventricular hypertrophy confirmed by echocardiography and excluded coronary artery stenosis via coronary angiography or 320-slice CT between January 2023 and May 2025 at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were selected for the hypertensive cardiomyopathy group.An additional 30 healthy individuals with normal results from either coronary angiography or 320-slice CT coronary imaging during the same period were selected as the normal control group.All subjects underwent routine echocardiography to record standard parameters.Myocardial acoustic contrast imaging was performed,semi-quantitative left ventricular myocardial perfusion results were recorded,and myocardial perfusion indices were calculated.Results:The weight,systolic blood pressure,and diastolic blood pressure of patients in the hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group,with all differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the normal control group,patients in the hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy group showed statistically significant differences in interventricular septal thickness,left ventricular posterior wall thickness,left atrial internal diameter,left ventricular mass,left ventricular mass index,and relative wall thickness(P＜0.05).In the normal control group,out of 510 myocardial segments,only 28 segments exhibited perfusion delay.In the hypertensive myocardial hypertrophy group,out of 544 myocardial segments,98 segments showed perfusion delay.The difference in myocardial perfusion scores between the two groups was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The application of ultrasound myocardial contrast imaging technology enables accurate assessment of microcirculation in hypertensive hypertrophic myocardium.It plays a crucial role in managing microcirculation in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy and holds significant importance for early diagnosis,treatment efficacy evaluation,and prognosis determination in hypertensive patients.