Clinical study of right ventricular global longitudinal function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension by 2-dimensional ultrasound speckle tracking imaging / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess right ventricular(RV) global longitudinal function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by 2-dimensional ultrasound speckle tracking imaging (STI). Methods According to pulmonary artery systolic pressure, 42 patients with PAH were divided into mild (17) ,moderate(15) and severe(10) PAH groups. RV global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLS), strain rate(GLSRs) ,early diastolic strain rate (GLSRe) and late diastolic strain rate (GLSRa) were measured in 42 patients with PAH and 31 healthy controls by STI from the apical 4-chamber view and compared between groups and assessed the determinants of the RV global longitudinal functional parameters. Results Right ventricular GLS,GLSRs,GLSRe, GLSRa were significantly impaired in patients with PAH compared with controls (P<0.05 for all). Right ventricular GLS were most altered in patients with the severe PAH group compared with mild PAH patients (P<0. 05). Right ventricular GLSRs, GLSRe, GLSRa were not significant between mild,moderate and severe PAH groups(P>0.05). Pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were the determinants of RV global longitudinal systolic function(r= - 0.466～- 0. 549, r = - 0. 403～- 0. 425, respectively, P <0.05 for both). There were good correlations between tricuspid annular systolic peak velocity and RV GLS,GLSRs in patients with PAH (r = 0. 556～0. 585, P < 0.001). Conclusions RV global function decreases in patients with PAH, RV global longitudinal function can be accurately and objectively studied by STI.