SPECKLE TRACKING ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY: AN ADVANCED TOOL FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND RISK STRATIFICATION IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Abstract

Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of global mortality, highlighting the need for high-performance diagnostic tools to enable early detection of myocardial dysfunction. This necessity has led to the emergence of speckle tracking echocardiography as a complex and advanced ultrasonographic technique.

Aim of the study. To comprehensively analyze current specialized literature and highlight the role of speckle-tracking echocardiography in the early detection and risk stratification of cardiovascular disease, with a focus on identifying the most relevant fundamental echocardiographic parameters.

Materials and Methods. A review of the specialized literature published between 2019 and 2025 was conducted, focusing on the role and clinical utility of speckle tracking echocardiography across various cardiovascular conditions.

Results. Speckle tracking echocardiography has proven its clinical utility in a wide range of nosological entities, including aortic stenosis, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Furthermore, it has demonstrated a superior ability to predict major cardiovascular events compared to conventional echocardiography and traditional risk scores. Throughout the study, several echocardiographic parameters were highlighted for their high sensitivity in detecting and preventing major cardiovascular events: global longitudinal strain (GLS) of the left ventricle (LV), global circumferential strain (GCS), peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), and peak atrial contraction strain (PACS), which have demonstrated high sensitivity for early detection and prognostication of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Conclusions. Speckle tracking echocardiography is an advanced imaging modality playing an increasingly significant role in early diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic guidance in a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. It provides detailed functional information that complements standard echocardiographic assessment and contributes to improved clinical management of patients.