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Publications

Journal Article Observational Study Ppublish

PubMed: 42286334 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-026-04423-w

Altered global longitudinal strain is a common finding in liver transplant recipients with mild cardiometabolic burden.

Intern Emerg Med 21(7):2535-2546

Authors: Arianna Toscano, Rosario La Delfa, Hannah Stephens, Melissa Orlandi, Marco Corsi, Gabriele Mascherini, Tommaso Zurli, Alessandra Avossa, Claudia Fiorillo, Matteo Becatti, Simone Baldi, Giulia Nannini, Paola Carrai, Stefania Petruccelli, Davide Ghinolfi, Amedeo Amedei, Francesco Sofi, Fabio Marra, Laura Stefani, Stefano Gitto

Affiliations

  • Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Policlinico G. Martino, Messina, Italy.
  • Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Hospital Careggi, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  • Sports Medicine Center Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  • Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  • Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio, " University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  • Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University of Pisa Medical School Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
  • Unit of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  • SOD Alcologia, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italia e Centro Alcologico Regionale Toscano, Florence, Italy.

Abstract

Liver transplant (LT) recipients represent a population at elevated cardiovascular (CV) risk, yet conventional assessment tools often fail to capture early myocardial dysfunction. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) has emerged as a sensitive marker of subclinical myocardial dysfunction, although its role in the long-term post-transplant setting remains poorly defined. The study aimed to evaluate left ventricular (LV)-GLS in a population of stable LT recipients with a mild cardiometabolic burden and to explore possible associations with metabolic, lifestyle, inflammatory, and transplant-related variables. A secondary aim was to assess longitudinal GLS variation over a 12-month period. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in 40 LT recipients. Cardiometabolic parameters, body composition (including bioimpedance analysis), diet (Medi-Lite), physical activity (IPAQ), echocardiography, and levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines were measured. CV risk scores were calculated. GLS impairment was detected in 47.5% of patients, despite preserved ejection fraction. Antihypertensive therapy correlated with more favorable GLS, whereas higher IL-17A and IL-1β levels were paradoxically linked to preserved strain. No association was found with immunosuppressive regimen or lifestyle indices. GLS remained unchanged at 12 months, irrespective of weight loss or dietary improvement. GLS appears more sensitive than EF in detecting subclinical myocardial dysfunction in LT recipients, highlighting its potential role in post-transplant CV surveillance. Antihypertensive treatment may exert protective effects, whereas cytokine patterns suggest unconventional mechanisms of cardiac modulation. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm prognostic implications and integrate GLS into CV risk stratification pathways post-LT.

MeSH

Cytokines, Liver Transplantation, Life Style, Internal Medicine, Liver, Diet, Transplants, Therapeutics