Abstract: Objective　To study the value of two-dimensional speckle tracing imaging (2DSTI) in the evealuation of ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) in uremic patients. Methods　A total of 96 uremic patients were divided into two groups based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): the normal LVEF group (LVEF≥0.55, n=48) and the LVEF decline group (LVEF＜0.55, n=48). Forty-five healthy subjects were recruited as the control group. All the patients underwent conventional echocardiography. VAC and myocardial performance index were calculated. Longitudinal strain (LS) of 17 segments was measured using 2DSTI, and the longitudinal strain values of the bottom (LSBA), papillary muscle (LSPM) and apex (LSAP) were calculated. Results　Compared to subjects in the control group and the normal LVEF group, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were increased, and left ventricular short axis shorting rate (LVFS), LSBA, LSPM and LSAP were decline in the LVEF decline group (P＜0.01). 2DSTI results showed that compared with the control group and the normal LVEF group, Ees decreased and VAC value increased in the LVEF-decline group (P＜0.05). Correlation analysis showed that LSBA, LSPM and LSAP were positively correlated with Ees, LVEF and LVFS (all P＜0.05), and negatively correlated with effective arterial elasticity (Ea), VAC, peripheral vascular resistance index (SVRI), heart rate, blood pressure product (RPP) and LVMI (all P＜0.05). Conclusion　2DSTI can be used to evaluate VAC in uremia patients.

Key words: uremia, echocardiography, doppler, two-dimensional ultrasonic speckle tracking imaging, ventricular arterial coupling, left ventricular ejection fraction