ABSTRACT
Objective To assess right ventricular(RV)systolic function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)by 2-dimensional strain(2DS).Methods According to pulmonary artery systolic pressure,patients with PAH were divided into mild(17),moderate(15)and severe(10)PAH groups.Logitudinal peak systolic strain values were measured in RV global and free wall for basal,mid and apical segment in 42 patients with PAH and 31 healthy controls by 2DS from the apical 4-chamber view,and compared between groups and assessed the determinants of the RV functional parameters.Results Logitudinal peak systolic strain of RV global and free wall for all segments were significantly impaired in patients with PAH compared with controls and were most altered in patients with the severe PAH group compared with mild patients(P＜0.05 for all).Pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were the determinants of RV function (γ1=-0.491～-0.641 and γ2=-0.403～-0.489,respectively,P＜0.05 for both).There were good correlations between tricuspid annular systolic peak velocity and strain of all segments in patients with PAH(γ=0.463～0.587,P＜0.001).Conclusions RV function in patients with PAH was decreased,RV longitudinal systolic function can be accurately and objectively studied by 2DS.