Shear Wave Velocity using High Frame Rate Imaging in Paediatric Cardiology

Echocardiographic Shear Wave (SW) Elastography (SWE) is a novel technique for the non-invasive assessment of myocardial stiffness (MS). SW occur naturally at end-diastole after mitral valve closure and can be measured using high frame rate (HFR) echocardiography. The propagation velocity of shear waves is directly related to myocardial stiffness, so that SWE may become a powerful new method for the assessment of diastolic function in pediatric population. Indeed, SW imaging can be a diagnostic tool for early detection of increased myocardial stiffness and diastolic dysfunction in children with congenital heart disease, children with multi-inflammatory syndrome post COVID infection and myocarditis. Our aim is to describe subtle changes in mechanical properties of heart using HFR echocardiography and correlate them to clinical parameters of the above mentioned diseases severity in children. A prospective cohort single center study will be conducted at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. All participants will be subjected to clinical evaluation and a baseline laboratory test as part of the routine clinical workup. They will further undergo a study-related echocardiography including both conventional as well as shear wave measurement using HFR imaging.