Echocardiographic imaging in clinical trials: American Society of Echocardiography standards for echocardiography core laboratories: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

摘要

Imaging with cardiac ultrasound is a critical element of cardiovascular clinical research. The noninvasive assessment of cardiac structure, function, and hemodynamics using echocardiography can provide essential data on the safety and efficacy of drugs and devices, as well as insight into mechanisms of disease and therapeutic benefit. Echocardiography may also be used to assess enrollment eligibility, provide surrogate endpoints, suggest future research directions, and assist in determining optimal patterns of clinical surveillance. However, the value of this information is highly dependent on the quality of the planning and performance of imaging, the quality of data analysis, and the appropriate incorporation of results into overall trial analysis.