ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: New 2-dimensional strain echocardiography enables quantification of right ventricular (RV) mechanics by assessing global longitudinal strain of RV (GLSRV) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the prognostic significance of impaired GLSRV is unclear in these patients. METHODS: Comprehensive echocardiography was performed in 51 consecutive PAH patients without atrial fibrillation (40 females, 48 +/- 14 years old) with long-term follow-up. GLSRV was measured with off-line with velocity vector imaging (VVI, Siemens Medical System, Mountain View, CA, USA). RESULTS: GLSRV showed significant correlation with RV fractional area change (r = -0.606, p or = -15.5%) was associated with lower event-free survival (HR = 4.906, p = 0.001) and increased mortality (HR = 8.842, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: GLSRV by VVI showed significant correlations with conventional echocardiographic parameters indicating RV systolic function. Lower GLSRV (> or = -15.5%) was significantly associated with presence of adverse clinical events and deaths in PAH patients.