Objective To evaluate the long-term left ventricular systolic function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) witout abnormal wall motion after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by layer-specific strain (LSS).

Methods From March 2017 to January 2018, 54 patients with CAD and PCI operation at the same time in Shanghai Chest Hospital were prospectively included (PCI group), and 46 cases with normal coronary artery angiography constituted the control group. Echocardiography was performed before operation and (21.04±2.27) months after PCI. Layer-specific strain was performed in three apical views to provide global longitudinal peak systolic strains (GLS) in the endocardium, mid-myocardium, and epicardium (GLSendo, GLSmid, and GLSepi). The difference between GLSendo and GLSepi (ΔGLS) was calculated.

Results Patients in the preoperative PCI group had significantly lower GLS compared with those in the control group (all P < 0.05). After (21.04±2.27) months of follow-up, GLSendo, GLSmid, and GLSepi in the PCI group were significantly higher than those in the preoperative PCI group (all P < 0.05), but still lower than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). Among the three groups, ΔGLS was the lowest in the preoperative PCI group (P < 0.05), and the ΔGLS in the postoperative PCI group was significantly higher than that in the preoperative PCI group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions The GLS of left ventricle is significantly improved after PCI, and the recovery of GLSendo is better than GLSepi. LSS can sensitively and accurately evaluate the long-term changes of left ventricular systolic function in patients with CAD without abnormal wall motion after PCI.