Echocardiographic evaluation of the morphology and function of the right ventricle in Eisenmenger's syndrome and idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons for better prognosis in adults with Eisenmenger's syndrome than those suffering from idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Our hypothesis was that right ventricular function is better preserved in the former case than in the latter. METHODS: We used two-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging to compare right ventricular morphology and function in 24 subjects with Eisenmenger's syndrome and 23 age- and sex-matched subjects with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. RESULTS: The mean age was 27.4+/-12.2 years for both groups. There were more patients from the idiopathic pulmonary hypertension group in the New York Heart Association Class III than those from the Eisenmenger's syndrome group (48.4% vs 36.3%; p<0.01). Measurements of the right and left ventricular free wall thickness, as well as the internal diameter of the right ventricle were taken, and tissue Doppler imaging was used to assess the function of both ventricles. In the Eisenmenger's group, the mean right ventricular and left ventricular free wall thickness was 10.4+/-2.78 mm and 9.7+/-1.98 mm, respectively. The mean right ventricular internal diameter in diastole and in systole were 20+/-8.64 mm and 18.1+/-9.24 mm, respectively. The mean right ventricular S1 was 10.4+/-3.4 cm/sec and S2, 10.3+/-2.6 cm/sec, while the left ventricular S1 was 7.4+/-1.87 cm/s and S2, 7.5+/-1.05 cm/sec, with a normal biventricular function. In the idiopathic pulmonary hypertension group, the mean right ventricular and left ventricular free wall thickness was 11.3+/-3.24 mm and 9.8+/-1.94 mm, respectively. The mean right ventricular internal diameter in diastole and systole was 36+/-8.9 mm and 30.1+/-9.8 mm, respectively. The mean right ventricular S1 was 6.9+/-3.4 cm/sec and S2, 6.8+/-2.8 cm/sec, while the left ventricular S1 was 7.4+/-1.8 cm/sec and S2, 7.5+/-1.05 cm/sec, reflecting right ventricular systolic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricular function was better preserved among subjects with Eisenmenger's syndrome than those with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension in a study in which the two groups were matched for age and sex.