Volume 42, Issue 3 e70128
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Changes in Left Ventricular Function Assessed by 3D Echocardiography During Severe Central Hypovolemia in Healthy Humans

Kazukuni Hirabuki

Kazukuni Hirabuki

Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Noritaka Hata

Noritaka Hata

Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Marina Fukuie

Marina Fukuie

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Rina Suzuki

Rina Suzuki

Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Tomoya Suda

Tomoya Suda

Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Takahiro Uechi

Takahiro Uechi

Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Ai Hirasawa

Ai Hirasawa

Department of Health and Welfare, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyorin University, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Jun Sugawara

Jun Sugawara

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Takeaki Matsuda

Takeaki Matsuda

Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

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Shigeki Shibata

Corresponding Author

Shigeki Shibata

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Kyorin University, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

Correspondence: Shigeki Shibata ([email protected])

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First published: 12 March 2025

Funding: This study was supported in part by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (17K19949; Jun Sugawara, 19K19984; Kazukuni Hirabuki).

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Central hypovolemia is considered to lead to a compensatory increase in cardiac contractility. From a physiological perspective, left ventricular (LV) twisting motion, which plays an important role in maintaining cardiac output, should be enhanced during central hypovolemia, but previous studies have shown inconsistent findings. Using 3D echocardiography, we tested the hypothesis that the LV twisting and untwisting motion would be enhanced during severe central hypovolemia.

Methods

Thirteen healthy men (25 ± 5 years old) underwent the maximal lower body negative pressure (LBNP) protocol; graded increase in LBNP loads up to presyncope. We evaluated the basic hemodynamics and LV function with 3D and Doppler echocardiography at each stage of LBNP. Indices were compared among baseline, half maximal LBNP (LBNP1/2max), and one stage before the presyncope (LBNPpre-max) to consider individual differences in orthostatic tolerance.

Results

In response to LBNP, ejection fraction (baseline: 62 ± 3, LBNP1/2max: 55 ± 5, LBNPpre-max: 43% ± 9%, mean ± SD, p < 0.01, ANOVA), global longitudinal strain (−20.5 ± 2.8, −17.6 ± 2.7, −13.6% ± 4.7%, p < 0.01), and global circumferential strain (−31.2 ± 3.7, −26.8 ± 3.3, −19.4% ± 5.3%, p < 0.01) were weakened. Twist (15.2 ± 5.1, 14.5 ± 5.4, 20.9° ± 7.7°, p = 0.012) and peak untwisting rate (−138 ± 42, −164 ± 50, −245°/cm ± 88°/cm, p < 0.01) were strengthened at the LBNPpre-max. e’ (14.1 ± 2.0, 11.1 ± 1.5, 8.2° ± 2.2 cm/s, p < 0.01) decreased in response to LBNP, while E/e’ (5.8 ± 0.8, 5.4 ± 1.0, 7.8 ± 2.3, p < 0.01) increased at LBNPpre-max.

Conclusion

The present findings indicate that LV twisting motion is enhanced during severe central hypovolemia. On the other hand, conventional echocardiographic indices appeared to deteriorate. Intriguingly, an index of LV filling (E/e’) was paradoxically enhanced during severe central hypovolemia.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

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