The influence of accessory pathway localization on left ventricular mechanics in adult patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: a speckle-tracking echocardiographic investigation
Background Ventricular pre-excitation can cause left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony and dysfunction. However, the specific impact of accessory pathway (AP) location on LV mechanics remains incompletely characterized. This study utilized two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) to quantify and compare LV deformation and synchrony across these anatomical subgroups. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 91 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome (age 38.2±1.4 years) and 56 matched controls using 2D-STE. Global and regional LV deformation and synchrony were compared across AP-location groups: septal (n=34), right (n=38), and left (n=19). LV deformation parameters included circumferential strain (CS), longitudinal strain (LS), and radial strain (RS). LV synchrony was assessed by peak strain dispersion (PSD) of LV segments for each strain direction. Results All patient groups (septal: −19.0%±0.7%, right: −19.3%±0.6%, and left AP: −19.2%±0.8%) had lower global CS (GCS) compared with controls (−23.1%±0.4%, all P<0.001). The septal AP group showed lower global LS (GLS) (−17.2%±0.5%), global RS (GRS) (30.1%±2.0%), and prolonged GLS-PSD (51.3±3.1 ms) than the left AP group and controls (P<0.05). The right AP group exhibited lower GLS (−17.5%±0.5%) than the left AP group (−19.6%±0.5%, P<0.05) and prolonged GLS-PSD (46.7±2.5 ms) compared with controls (31.6±1.1 ms, P<0.001). The left AP group showed GLS (−19.6%±0.5%), GRS (40.0%±2.6%), and GLS-PSD (40.1±2.3 ms) that were not significantly different from controls (all P>0.05). LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower in septal (59.2%±1.2%) and right AP groups (59.8%±1.0%) vs. controls (65.0%±0.3%; P<0.001). LVEF correlated negatively with GLS (r=−0.53, P<0.001) and with GLS-PSD (r=−0.41, P<0.001). Conclusions LV mechanical dysfunction in WPW syndrome varies by AP location. Septal and right APs lead to widespread strain impairment, dyssynchrony, and lower LVEF, whereas left APs mainly reduce CS. Reduced LVEF is closely associated with impaired LV mechanics and dyssynchrony.