Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan Treatment on Left Ventricular Myocardial Torsion Mechanics in Patients with Heart Failure Reduced Ejection Fraction 2D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Abstract

Background:

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is calculated from volumetric change without representing true myocardial properties. Strain echocardiography has been used to objectively measure myocardial deformation. Myocardial strain can give accurate information about intrinsic myocardial function, and it can be used to detect early-stage cardiovascular diseases, monitor myocardial changes with specific therapies, differentiate cardiomyopathies, and predict the prognosis of several cardiovascular diseases. Sacubitril/valsartan has been shown to improve mortality and reduce hospitalizations in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The effect of sacubitril/valsartan angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) on left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and torsion dynamics in HFrEF patients has not been previously described.

Methods:

The study involved 73 patients with HFrEF, for all patients Full history was taken, full clinical examination was done. Baseline vital signs, ECG, NYHA classification, conventional echocardiography and STE were done at baseline study and after 6 and 11 months.Basal and apical LV short-axis images were acquired for further off-line analysis. Using commercially available two-dimensional strain software, apical, basal rotation, and LV torsion were calculated.

Results:

ARNI group of patients showed improvement of symptoms, LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS)% and diastolic parameters including, E/A, E/e', TV, untwist onset and rate after 6 months of therapy in comparison to the traditionally treated patients. The improvement continued for 11 months with in additional significant improvement of systolic parameters in the form of LVGLS%, EF%, Twist, Apical and basal rotations, main dependent parameters for improvement of EF% was LVGLS% and Apical rotation.

Conclusion:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that therapy with sacubitril/valsartan in HFrEF patients could create a state of gradual and chronic LV deloading which cause relieving of myocardial wall tensions and decreasing the LV end diastolic pressure this state could cause cardiac reverse remodeling and reestablishment of starling forces proprieties of LV myocardium, which lead to increase of LV EF.

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular (LV) systolic function assessment is the cornerstone of an echocardiographic examination. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the most commonly employed. It results from the combined action of basal and apical rotation, longitudinal and circumferential contraction, and radial thickening. However, LVEF has many limitations; some of them related to the definition itself and others to imaging techniques.[1,2]

The characteristic double helical structure of myocardial fibers results in systolic rotation of the base and apex of the LV in opposite directions along its longitudinal axis, and the algebraic subtraction of this rotation causes LV twist. Due to this muscular movement, the base of the LV moves toward the apex, producing a longitudinal LV shortening.[3] Therefore, systolic ventricular contraction results from the combined and simultaneous action of twisting and shortening of LV (Myocardial torsion) which is a fundamental component of cardiac function.[4,5]

Speckle tracking echocardiography[6] (STE) is a useful echocardiographic tool for evaluating myocardial function, due its high spatial and temporal resolution, good intra- and inter-observer reproducibility,[7] being independent of the insonation angle,[8] and it is not affected by translational movements of the heart. It also employed in assessing the torsion mechanics including twist and untwist which has emerged as novel reliable quantitative parameters for the assessment of LV function. Twist and rotational parameters may contribute useful comprehensive information beyond the conventional indices of LV function.[9] Our aim in this study is to assess the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on the myocardial mechanics of the left ventricle in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients.

METHODS

Subjects

The study involved 73 patients with HFrEF where they were randomly assigned into two matched groups. Group (1) including 37 patients with traditional treatment of heart failure and the other Group (2) including 36 patients were treated with sacubitril/valsartan and other evidenced-based medical treatments. Full history was taken, and full clinical examination was done. Baseline vital signs, electrocardiogram (ECG), New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, conventional echocardiography, and STE were done at baseline study and after 6 and 11 months.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Written informed consent must be obtained before any assessment was performed

2. Men and women ≥18 years of age

3. LVEF ≤40% subjects who were candidates for on-label sacubitril/valsartan treatment per standard of care

4. NYHA functional Class II-IV

5. LVEF ≤40% through any local measurement within the past 6 months using echocardiography. If a subject was on a loop diuretic, they must be on a stable dose for 2 weeks prior to baseline.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Pregnant or nursing women

2. History of hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs

3. History of angioedema drug related or otherwise

4. Subjects with a heart transplant or ventricular assistance device or intent to transplant (on transplant list) or implant a VA

5. Subjects with a cardioresynchronization therapy device (cardiac resynchronization therapy [CRT]/CRT-Defibrillator) implanted within 6 months of screening visit

6. Subjects who were currently taking inotropic agents

7. Bile acid sequestering agents such as cholestyramine or colestipol were prohibited to avoid interference with study drug absorption

8. Any hospital admission/discharge related to heart failure within 2 weeks prior to baseline

9. The use of outpatient or inpatient intravenous diuretic therapy within 2 weeks prior to baseline

10. Potassium >5.2 mEq/L at screening.

Ethical clearance

The local ethics committee of the hosted university approved the study protocol and written consent was obtained from the patients.

Study period

The patients on this study were followed up during the period from February 2019 to December 2019.

Standard echo-Doppler study

Standard echo-Doppler was performed using a Vivid E9 ultrasound system (GE Vingmed Ultrasound AS, Horten, Norway). Cine-loops were recorded on DVDs for offline analysis (EchoPAC PC 6.0.0, GE Medical Systems). All the measurements were analyzed taking the average of three cardiac cycles. LV diameter and wall thickness were measured according to the criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography.[10]

The left atrium volume was determined by the biplane-area-length method.[11] Two-dimensional measurements of LV wall thickness were assessed in four segments (anterior and posterior interventricular septum, inferior, and anterolateral walls) at the mitral valve, papillary muscles, and apical levels by parasternal short-axis views. In addition, LV EF was calculated by the Simpson biplane method.[12] As measures of global LV diastolic function peak velocities at the early (peak E) and late (peak A) diastole, their ratio, deceleration time of the E wave and isovolumic relaxation time were assessed by pulsed-Doppler with the sample volume placed at the mitral valve leaflet tips and at the aortic outflow.[13] Finally, by pulsed tissue Doppler, peak early diastolic velocity on the septal part of the mitral annulus was measured (E′) and E/E′ ratio was calculated.

Speckle tracking imaging study

For the sexually transmitted disease study, the second-harmonic B-mode images of apical (4-chamber, 2-chamber, and 3-chamber) and short-axis (at the mitral valve and apical level) views were obtained. The LV endocardial border was manually traced at the end-systolic frame and a speckle-tracking region of interest was automatically selected. The width of the region of interest was adjusted as necessary to accommodate the total thickness of the LV wall. The computer automatically tracked stable objects in each frame using the sum of absolute differences algorithm. After these steps, the workstation computed and generated strain curves. For assessment of LV rotational mechanics through scanning and recording from the left parasternal short-axis view of both basal and apical short-axis planes to quantify basal and apical LV rotations using the same probe, with a frequency range 1.7–2.0 MHz at a high frame rate (range: 80–115 frame/s).

The basal level was marked as the plane showing the tips of mitral valve leaflets at its center with full-thickness myocardium surrounding the mitral valve. Then, the transducer was positioned one or two intercostal spaces more caudal and slightly lateral from the basal site to be perpendicular to the apical imaging plane.[14] The apical level was defined just proximal to the level of LV apical luminal obliteration at the end-systole. The cross-section must be as circular as possible. We must pay careful attention to ensure that full thickness of myocardium is imaged throughout the cardiac cycle.

To analyze twist and untwist parameters, from the basal and apical short axis, data set with a well-defined endocardial border and the regions of interest were adjusted to include all myocardial thickness without including the pericardium. The endocardial borders of both basal and short axis planes were manually traced and subsequently tracked by the software. If poor tracking quality was observed, the region of interest was readjusted until acceptable tracking was obtained. After processing, curves of basal and apical LV rotation, twist, twist rate, and untwist rate were automatically generated by the software (Excel; Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, USA). Twist was calculated as apical rotation relative to the basal rotation, with counter clockwise rotation as viewed from LV apex expressed as positive value and clockwise rotation as a negative value. Peak LV twist, peak LV twist rate (as first positive peak after R wave on ECG), and peak LV untwist rate (as the first negative peak after aortic valve closure) were recorded. Cardiac cycle length was measured as R–R interval. Time to peak twist rate was measured as time from R wave to peak twist rate, and time to peak untwist rate was measured as time from R wave to peak untwist rate.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using Statistical Program for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0 for windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Quantitative data of normal distribution were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Qualitative data were expressed as frequency and percentage. Independent-samples t-test of significance was used when comparing between two means of normally distributed data. Pearson correlation was used to measure the association between two quantitative variables. Multivariable regression analysis is used to predict values of one variable based on two or more other variables. The purpose of the test is to determine whether there is statistical evidence that the mean difference between paired observations on a particular outcome is significantly different from zero. Probability (P value): P < 0.05 was considered significant, P < 0.001 was considered as highly significant and P > 0.05 was considered insignificant.

RESULTS

Our prospective study basically included 73 patients diagnosed as HFrEF based on conventional echocardiography study at the outpatient clinic of Menoufia University Hospital, a total of 12 cases were excluded during the workflow of the follow-ups either because of three cases missed connections, four cases developed severe renal impairment and chronic kidney disease, three cases were uninterested to continue follow-up, and two cases died of sudden cardiac death. Sixty-one patients succeeded to complete the time table of the study, 34 cases were treated by Sacubitril/Valsartan Angiotensin receptor neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI) group and 27 cases were treated by traditional therapy (Traditional group), data reveled that at baseline there were no significant difference in between the traditionally treated and ARNI treated groups regarding basic characteristics, demographic data, symptoms, conventional, and STE echocardiographic measurements [Table 1].

Table 1.

Comparison between angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor and traditional group at baseline (start of therapy)

Groups at baseline	n	Mean±SD	t	P
Age (years)
AR	34	68.03±11.414	1.868	0.067
TT	27	63.15±8.231
LVEDV (mL)
AR	34	155.35±29.676	−0.807	0.423
TT	27	161.30±27.091
LVESV (mL)
AR	34	102.24±19.031	−1.387	0.171
TT	27	109.59±22.385
EF (%)
AR	34	34.76±3.619	1.931	0.061
TT	27	32.51±5.649
Average LVGLS (%)
AR	34	−9.765±1.827	−1.829	0.072
TT	27	−8.833±2.148
TR velocity (m/s)
AR	34	2.732±0.300	−1.437	0.156
TT	27	2.848±0.327
E/A
AR	34	1.144±0.307	−1.681	0.098
TT	27	1.278±0.311
E/e’
AR	34	10.62±1.875	−1.867	0.067
TT	27	11.52±1.868
DD grade
AR	34	2.18±0.521	−0.656	0.514
TT	27	2.26±0.447
Untwist rate (°/s)
AR	34	−61.21±4.728	−1.234	0.222
TT	27	−59.74±4.443
Untwist onset (ms)
AR	34	104.53±16.808	−1.032	0.306
TT	27	109.11±17.723
Twist
AR	34	8.874±1.468	−0.521	0.604
TT	27	9.044±0.968
Basal rotation
AR	34	−3.5853±0.862	0.724	0.472
TT	27	−3.7444±0.841
Apical rotation
AR	34	4.515±1.399	−0.537	0.593
TT	27	4.707±1.383

AR=ARNI group, TT=Traditional group, ARNI=Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, LV=Left ventricular, SD=Standard deviation, LVEDV=LV end-diastolic volume, LVESV=LV end-systolic volume, EF=Ejection fraction, LVGLS=LV global longitudinal strain, TR=Tricuspid regurgitation, DD=Diastolic dysfunction

After 6 months, both the groups recalled for doing the first follow-up and there were remarkable differences in symptoms, conventional and STE echocardiography data [Table 2] there were very high statistically significant improvement in diastolic parameters either conventional E/A, E/e', Tricuspid velocity or STE specifically untwist parameters (Untwist onset, and rate). In addition the ejection fraction and global LV longitudinal strain also showed improvement. For the final recall after 11 months, the data showed exponential improvement for both diastolic and systolic parameters with very high statistically significant improvement of untwist and twist parameters with remarkable improvement of ejection in the ARNI group versus the traditionally treated patients [Table 3].

Table 2.

Comparison between angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor and traditional group at 6 months follow up

6 months follow up	n	Mean±SD	t	P
LVEDV (mL)
AR	34	152.24±30.21	−0.979	0.331
TT	27	159.52±27.03
LVESV (mL)
AR	34	99.06±22.59	−1.391	0.169
TT	27	107.15±22.51
EF (%)
AR	34	35.76±3.77	2.042	0.046
TT	27	33.63±4.45
Average LVGLS (%)
AR	34	−10.118±1.77	−2.045	0.045
TT	27	−9.185±1.78
TR velocity (m/s)
AR	34	2.565±0.31	−2.901	0.005
TT	27	2.804±0.34
E/A
AR	34	0.947±0.31	−3.173	0.002
TT	27	1.181±0.27
E/e’
AR	34	9.21±1.84	−3.919	0.000
TT	27	10.96±1.61
Untwist rate (°/s)
AR	34	−65.00±5.22	−3.816	0.000
TT	27	−60.15±4.55
Untwist onset (ms)
AR	34	98.41±16.87	−2.152	0.036
TT	27	107.48±15.67
Twist
AR	34	8.979±1.31	−0.302	0.764
TT	27	9.070±0.95
Basal rotation
AR	34	−3.559±0.85	1.018	0.313
TT	27	−3.769±0.73
Apical rotation
AR	34	4.477±1.29	−0.718	0.475
TT	27	4.715±1.29

AR=ARNI group, TT=Traditional group, ARNI=Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, SD=Standard deviation, LV=Left ventricular, LVEDV=LV end-diastolic volume, LVESV=LV end-systolic volume, EF=Ejection fraction, LVGLS=LV global longitudinal strain, TR=Tricuspid regurgitation

Table 3.

Comparison between angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor and traditional group at 11 months follow up

Groups	n	Mean±SD	t	P
LVEDV (mL)
AR 11	34	152.24±30.21	−0.979	0.331
TT 11	27	159.52±27.03
LVESV (mL)
AR 11	34	99.06±22.59	−1.391	0.169
TT 11	27	107.15±22.51
EF (%)
AR 11	34	39.35±3.16	6.185	0.000
TT 11	27	33.93±3.69
Average LVGLS (%)
AR 11	34	−11.09±1.34	−3.994	0.000
TT 11	27	−9.63±1.52
Untwist rate (°/s)
AR 11	34	−65.00±5.22	−3.816	0.000
TT 11	27	−60.15±4.55
Untwist onset (ms)
AR 11	34	98.42±16.87	−2.152	0.036
TT 11	27	107.48±15.67
Twist
AR 11	34	10.92±1.46	6.279	0.000
TT 11	27	8.87±0.97
Basal rotation
AR 11	34	−4.59±0.74	−3.736	0.000
TT 11	27	−3.85±0.81
Apical rotation
AR 11	34	6.39±1.34	4.207	0.000
TT 11	27	4.91±1.30

AR=ARNI group follow up after 11 months, TT=Traditional group follow up after 11 months, ARNI=Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, SD=Standard deviation, LV=Left ventricular, LVEDV=LV end-diastolic volume, LVESV=LV end-systolic volume, EF=Ejection fraction, LVGLS=LV global longitudinal strain

On the other hand to show the pattern of temporal effect of ARNI therapy among the ARNI group itself, we made comparisons between the ARNI group at different follow-ups and it also showed exponential improvement from baseline, 6 months, and 11 months follow-up with maximal improvement of untwist parameters, twist and EF after 11 months of follow-up [Tables 4 and 5].

Table 4.

Comparison between baseline angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor 0 and angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor 6 after 6 months follow up

Groups	n	Mean±SD	t	P
LVEDV (mL)
AR 0	34	155.35±29.67	0.429	0.669
AR 6	34	152.24±30.21
LVESV (mL)
AR 0	34	102.23±19.03	0.627	0.533
AR 6	34	99.06±22.59
EF (%)
AR 0	34	34.77±3.62	−1.124	0.265
AR 6	34	35.77±3.72
Average LVGLS (%)
AR 0	34	−9.77±1.83	0.811	0.420
AR 6	34	−10.12±1.77
TR velocity (m/s)
AR 0	34	2.73±0.30	2.271	0.026
AR 6	34	2.57±0.31
TR grade
AR 0	34	2.50±0.93	1.848	0.069
AR 6	34	2.12±0.77
MR grade
AR 0	34	2.71±0.84	2.951	0.004
AR 6	34	2.12±0.81
E/A
AR 0	34	1.14±0.31	2.675	0.009
AR 6	34	0.95±0.30
E/e’
AR 0	34	10.62±1.88	3.135	0.003
AR 6	34	9.21±1.84
DD grade
AR 0	34	2.18±0.52	2.651	0.010
AR 6	34	1.82±0.58
Untwist rate (°/s)
AR 0	34	−61.21±4.73	3.142	0.003
AR 6	34	−65.00±5.22
Untwist onset (ms)
AR 0	34	104.53±16.81	1.498	0.139
AR 6	34	98.41±16.87
Twist
AR 0	34	8.88±1.49	−0.313	0.755
AR 6	34	8.98±1.31
Basal rotation
AR 0	34	−3.56±0.86	−0.123	0.902
AR 6	34	−3.56±0.85
Apical rotation
AR 0	34	4.52±1.39	0.117	0.907
AR 6	34	4.48±1.29

AR 0 baseline, AR 6 6 months follow up. AR=ARNI group, ARNI=Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, SD=Standard deviation, LV=Left ventricular, LVEDV=LV end-diastolic volume, LVESV=LV end-systolic volume, EF=Ejection fraction, LVGLS=LV global longitudinal strain, TR=Tricuspid regurgitation, DD=Diastolic dysfunction, MR=Mitral regurgitation

Table 5.

Comparison between angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor 0, angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor 6 and Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor 11 month’s follow-ups (ANOVA) test

Descriptives	n	Mean±SD	SE	95% CI for mean		F	P
				Lower bound	Upper bound
LVEDV (mL)
AR 0	34	155.35±29.68	5.09	145.00	165.71	0.11	0.875
AR 6	34	152.24±31.21	5.18	141.70	162.77
AR 11	34	150.13±30.01	5.12	140.53	161.54
LVESV (mL)
AR 0	34	102.24±19.03	3.26	95.60	108.88	0.23	0.771
AR 6	34	99.06±22.59	3.87	91.18	106.94
AR 11	34	98.07±21.48	3.75	90.14	104.23
EF (%)
AR 0	34	34.76±3.62	0.62	33.50	36.03	16.09	0.000
AR 6	34	35.76±3.72	0.64	34.47	37.06
AR 11	34	39.35±3.16	0.54	38.25	40.46
Average LVGLS (%)
AR 0	34	−9.76±1.83	0.31	−10.40	−9.13	5.84	0.004
AR 6	34	−10.12±1.76	0.30	−10.73	−9.50
AR 11	34	−11.09±1.34	0.23	−11.56	−10.62
Untwist rate (°/s)
AR 0	34	−61.21±4.73	0.81	−62.86	−59.56	6.38	0.002
AR 6	34	−63.00±5.11	0.86	−63.81	−61.15
AR 11	34	−65.00±5.22	0.89	−66.82	−63.18
Untwist onset (ms)
AR 0	34	104.53±16.81	2.88	98.66	110.39	1.49	0.229
AR 6	34	98.41±16.87	2.89	92.53	104.30
AR 11	34	96.31±17.78	2.68	91.34	103.32
Twist
AR 0	34	8.87±1.47	0.25	8.36	9.39	22.49	0.000
AR 6	34	8.98±1.31	0.23	8.52	9.44
AR 11	34	10.91±1.45	0.25	10.41	11.42
Basal rotation
AR 0	34	−3.59±0.86	0.15	−3.89	−3.28	17.50	0.000
AR 6	34	−3.56±0.85	0.15	−3.86	−3.26
AR 11	34	−4.59±0.73	0.13	−4.84	−4.33
Apical rotation
AR 0	34	4.51±1.40	0.24	4.03	5.00	21.37	0.000
AR 6	34	4.48±1.29	0.22	4.03	4.93
AR 11	34	6.34±1.34	0.23	5.87	6.81

AR=ARNI group, ARNI=Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, SD=Standard deviation, LV=Left ventricular, LVEDV=LV end-diastolic volume, LVESV=LV end-systolic volume, EF=Ejection fraction, LVGLS=LV global longitudinal strain, SE=Standard error, CI=Confidence interval

As regard LVEF of the ARNI group after 11 months, it was positively correlated with LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), Twist, Apical rotation, and negatively correlated with untwist onset, and rate and basal rotation [Table 6 and Figures 1-4].

Table 6.

Correlation of ejection fraction percentage and other echocardiographic variables in angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor group after 11 months

Correlations
EF (%)	LVEDV	LVESV	LVGLS (%)	Untwist rate	Untwist onset	Twist	Basal rotation	Apical rotation
Pearson correlation	0.13	−0.03	0.407*	−0.522**	−0.492**	0.934**	−0.966**	0.991**
Significant (two-tailed)	0.48	0.88	0.02	0.002	0.003	0.000	0.000	0.000
n	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	34

*Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (two-tailed), **Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (two-tailed). LV=Left ventricular, LVEDV=LV end-diastolic volume, LVESV=LV end-systolic volume, LVGLS=LV global longitudinal strain, EF=Ejection fraction

Figure 1.

Scattered matrix plot showing positive correlation between ejection fraction % and left ventricular twist

Figure 4.

Scattered matrix plot showing positive correlation between ejection fraction % and average left ventricular global longitudinal strain %

Figure 2.

Scattered matrix plot showing negative correlation between ejection fraction % and left ventricular basal rotation

Figure 3.

Scattered matrix plot showing positive correlation between ejection fraction % and left ventricular apical rotation

From all of these variables, the only dependent variables for the improvement of EF% were the LVGLS, and Apical rotation [Table 7].

Table 7.

Regression analysis of Echocardiographic parameters in relation to EF % in AR group after 11 months

Coefficientsa
Model	Unstandardized coefficients		Standardized coefficients, β	t	Significant	95% CI for B
	B	SE				Lower bound	Upper bound
EF (%)
Constant	15.963	5.375		2.970	0.006	4.893	27.032
LVEDV	−0.005	0.012	−0.045	−0.385	0.703	−0.030	0.020
LVESV	0.005	0.015	0.037	0.333	0.742	−0.027	0.037
LVGLS (%)	0.960	0.381	0.407	2.520	0.017	0.184	1.735
Untwist rate	−0.075	0.055	−0.123	−1.361	0.186	−0.188	0.038
Untwist onset	0.027	0.017	0.146	1.592	0.124	−0.008	0.063
Twist	0.116	0.205	0.053	0.565	0.577	−0.307	0.539
Basal rotation	−0.179	0.607	−0.042	−0.295	0.770	−1.428	1.070
Apical rotation	2.172	0.261	0.920	8.306	0.000	1.633	2.710

^aDependent variable: EF (%). LV=Left ventricular, LVEDV=LV end-diastolic volume, LVESV=LV end-systolic volume, LVGLS=LV global longitudinal strain, EF=Ejection fraction, SE=Standard error, CI=Confidence interval

DISCUSSION

The sound evaluation of cardiac function plays a crucial role in diagnosing cardiovascular diseases, initiating specific therapeutic interventions, monitoring treatment, and determining the prognosis of a variety of cardiovascular conditions. Echocardiography can provide valuable information about the anatomy and function of the heart.[15,16] LVEF provides objective information about LV systolic function. It has been used to diagnose and classify heart failure,[17,18] determine the suitability of device therapy,[17,19] decide interventions for valvular heart diseases,[20,21] determine the need for specific medications,[19] and predict prognosis.[22] However, LVEF is a volumetric parameter with ventricular load-dependence and had limitations such as significant inter- and intra-observer variability and geometric assumptions.[23] Moreover, LVEF does not represent intrinsic myocardial properties.

Strain is a dimensionless index of a change in length between 2 points before and after movement. Strain echocardiography was introduced to the clinical field about 20 years ago, making it a relatively new echocardiographic modality that can measure myocardial deformation. Unlike LVEF, myocardial strain, as calculated by strain echocardiography, can afford indices of regional and global myocardial systolic function noninvasively and objectively.[24]

Strain echocardiography has been used to diagnose subclinical disease states,[25,26] monitor changes in myocardial function with specific therapies,[27] differentiate cardiomyopathies,[28] and predict the prognosis of several cardiovascular diseases independently of LVEF.[29,30]

Although the physiological mechanisms of action of sacubitril/valsartan are well described, its effects on LV remodeling and LVEF have not been well studied. LV remodeling is a major mechanism underlying disease progression in patients with HFrEF.[31] The degree of improvement in LV end-diastolic volume, LV end-systolic volume, LV dimensions, and LVEF with therapies are strongly correlated with clinical outcomes, including survival.[32]

In the current study, we demonstrated that after 6 months of follow-up on the ARNI-treated group of patients the symptoms of congestion and dyspnea was remarkably improved this is accompanied with the improvement of diastolic indices that might be explained by a chronic state of LV deloading and reduction of LV end diastolic pressure indexed by the reduction of the tricuspid flow velocity, E/A, E/e' also that could help in the initial improvement of LVGLS which indicating that the maximized stretch of LV myocardium and wall tension are reduced with restoration of myocardial starling's forces and this state prepare the LV myocardium recovering the global longitudinal strain. Beta-blockers, Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and receptor blockers, and mineralocorticoids receptor antagonists (MRAs) have demonstrated potent effects on reverse remodeling and improvement in LVEF in multiple studies.[33,34,35,36] Animal studies have shown that treatment with sacubitril/valsartan compared to valsartan alone is associated with a statistically significant increase in LVEF and a trend toward improved reverse remodeling.[37]

Heart failure has recently been classified according to alterations in the mechanical function of the LV.[38] After having observed anomalous specific patterns of ventricular myocardial mechanics in different subsets of patients with heart failure, an alternative approach has been proposed for its characterization.[38,39] Accordingly, heart failure can be classified into three large subgroups: (a) predominant longitudinal dysfunction; (b) transmural dysfunction (longitudinal and circumferential); and (c) predominant circumferential dysfunction. This classification is based on the orientation of the myocardial fibers of the LV, which are arranged obliquely in a double helix shape. Endocardial fibers, which are aligned in a parallel fashion to the LV long axis, are mainly associated with longitudinal mechanics, while transmural fibers are mainly responsible for circumferential mechanics.[40] The action of the latter is predominant due to its greater radius of action.

In the case of systolic dysfunction, twist serves as a compensatory mechanism, and the more its reduction the more advanced stage of the disease. In the dilated left ventricle, the fiber muscles in both layers are stretched and oriented more circumferentially, which leads to additional reduction in chamber contractility and torsion.[41,42] Thus, twist and torsion may be a sensitive marker of remodeling of LV wall architecture, useful in the monitoring of disease progression and response to therapy.

The last follow-up of our patients groups after 11 months, there were a lot of data that strongly supports the idea of the effect of sacubitril/valsartan of LVEF, and reverse myocardial remodeling which might go in agreement with the PROVE-heart failure trial,[43] where the investigators stated that “although improvement in cardiac structure and function was present at 6 months, at 12 months, further improvement in LVEF and volumes was present, with 25% of the study participants experiencing an absolute LVEF increase of more than 13%.” In that trail they depend on changes in LV end systolic, diastolic and left atrial volumes, but in our study, we selected a more precise STE deformational parameters, which had a more sensitive predictive values and accuracy, where we demonstrated that at 11 months most of the torsion mechanics and LVGLS consequently LVEF in addition to the diastolic parameters as untwist rate and onset, that means systolic functional improvement and LV recovery.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate clear recovery of untwist and twist mechanics, global longitudinal strain, and LVEF in HFrEF patients under 11 months' therapy of sacubitril/valsartan that effect might be explained by a state of chronic deloading with reduction of LV end diastolic pressure which consequently helps in restoration of starling's forces with recovery of LV geometry that lead finally to the improvement of myocardial performance.

Ethical clearance

Human Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of Menoufia University, Shebein el koom, Egypt, approved the study protocol. And, the study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the code of Good Clinical Practice. All patients provided written informed consent to participate after a full explanation of the study.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.