Tissue Doppler echocardiography reveals impaired cardiac function in patients with reversible ischaemia.

AIMS: To determine if echocardiographic tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) performed at rest detects reduced myocardial function in patients with reversible ischaemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-four patients with angina pectoris, no previous history of ischaemic heart disease and normal left ventricular ejection fraction were examined with colour TDI, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and coronary angiography (CAG). Patients with a normal SPECT (n= 42) constituted the control group and patients with a positive SPECT (n= 42) were divided into patients with (true-positive SPECT, n= 30) or without (false-positive SPECT, n= 12) significant coronary stenoses assessed by CAG. Regional longitudinal systolic (s'), early diastolic (e'), and late diastolic (a') myocardial velocities were measured by colour TDI at six mitral annular sites and averaged to provide global estimates. In patients with reversible ischaemia both global systolic and diastolic function were impaired in terms of reduced average s' (5.6 ± 0.9 vs. 6.1 ± 1.1 cm/s; P< 0.05), reduced average e' (5.9 ± 1.8 vs. 7.0 ± 1.7 cm/s; P< 0.01) and increased average E/e' (14.2 ± 5.0 vs. 11.5 ± 3.9; P< 0.01). This impairment of the cardiac function was even more evident in patients with a true-positive SPECT with reduced average s' (5.5 ± 0.8 vs. 6.1 ± 1.1 cm/s; P< 0.01), reduced average e' (5.2 ± 1.5 vs. 7.0 ± 1.7 cm/s; P< 0.001), and increased average E/e' (15.5 ± 5.2 vs. 11.5 ± 3.9; P< 0.001), whereas no difference in myocardial velocities could be demonstrated in patients with a false-positive SPECT compared with controls. CONCLUSION: In patients with stable angina pectoris, preserved ejection fraction, and reversible ischaemia assessed by SPECT, echocardiographic colour TDI performed at rest reveals impaired cardiac function. The impairment of the cardiac function seems to be evident only in patients with a true-positive SPECT and colour TDI may therefore increase its diagnostic value.

Prognostic importance of quantitative echocardiographic evaluation in patients suspected of first non-massive pulmonary embolism.

AIMS: Patients suspected of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) frequently undergo echocardiography as a part of the initial work-up. Prognostic implication of routine echocardiography in patients suspected of PE remain to be established. METHODS AND RESULTS: Transthoracic echocardiography, including tissue Doppler imaging, was performed in 283 consecutive patients referred for ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy (V/Q scan) on suspicion of first non-massive PE. The prognostic information of quantitative measures of right ventricular (RV) size, function, and pressure was assessed. Patients with PE had a follow-up echocardiography after 1 year and changes in the parameters were assessed. Patients with PE and normal V/Q scans had similar age-adjusted 1 year mortality [10 and 12%, NS (not significant)], although patients with indeterminate scans carried a poorer prognosis (16% survival, P=0.0004). Among all patients left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction as well as shortening of the pulmonary artery (PA) acceleration time (a measure of RV after-load) was associated with increased mortality [hazard ratio (HR)=0.84 per 10 ms increase, P<0.0001]. In patients with confirmed PE, the PA acceleration time is predictive of event-free survival (all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalizations) adjusted for LV ejection fraction, age, and sex (HR=0.78 per 10 ms increase, P=0.04). Measures of regional myocardial function were not related to outcome in this study, regardless of presence of PE. CONCLUSION: PA acceleration time and LV systolic function are independent predictors of mortality in patients suspected of PE, and are independent predictors of event-free survival in patients with confirmed PE.

Quantification of right ventricular function in acute pulmonary embolism: relation to extent of pulmonary perfusion defects.

AIMS: The relation of the extent of obstruction of the pulmonary vasculature in pulmonary embolism (PE) and impact on right ventricular (RV) hemodynamics is not well established. This study evaluated the relation of size of perfusion defects and changes in echocardiographic measures of global and regional RV dysfunction in 58 consecutive patients with non-massive PE. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were compared with 58 age-matched controls that had normal ventilation/perfusion scintigraphies. A 2D, Doppler and Tissue Doppler echocardiography performed on the same day, quantified RV pressure and global and regional performance. Intermediate and large pulmonary emboli were associated with a significant impact on RV pressure and function. For small pulmonary emboli obstructing <25% of the pulmonary vasculature, the acceleration time of the pulmonary artery (PA) outflow was significantly shortened, 85 +/- 22 ms vs. 117 +/- 35 ms, P < 0.0001. Peak systolic strain in the middle segment of RV free wall was reduced in patients with perfusion defect greater than 25%, -1 +/- 13% vs. -13 +/- 17%, P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Mid ventricular longitudinal dysfunction consistent with the 'McConnell-sign' is found in patients with moderate degrees of perfusion defects, whereas the acceleration time of the PA flow is reduced even in patients with small pulmonary emboli.

Quantitative measures of right ventricular dysfunction by echocardiography in the diagnosis of acute nonmassive pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is used in the risk assessment of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), but the incremental diagnostic information from quantitative measures of right ventricular (RV) size, pressure, and function by TTE has yet to be fully evaluated. METHODS: In 300 consecutive patients with suspected first nonmassive PE, TTE and ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy were performed. RESULTS: Among measures of RV anatomy, RV pressure estimates, and estimates of global and regional RV function with significant diagnostic information in a logistic regression analysis, the acceleration time of RV outflow less than 89 milliseconds, the ratio of RV to left ventricular diameter greater than 0.78, RV outflow tract fractional shortening less than 35%, and signs of RV strain on electrocardiogram had independent, incremental diagnostic information (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve = 0.81). If D-dimer greater than 4.1 mmol/L was included, the area under the curve increased to 0.88. The negative and positive predictive values if any 2 of 3 factors in the final model were present were 88% and 70%, respectively. CONCLUSION: TTE is able to identify differential diagnoses and enhance pretest probability of PE significantly. TTE could therefore be considered as an integral part of the initial diagnostic workup of patients suspected of PE, especially if definitive diagnostic imaging has limited availability.

Evaluation of right ventricular volume and function by 2D and 3D echocardiography compared to MRI.

AIMS: Radionuclide techniques, and recently MRI, have been used for clinical evaluation of right ventricular (RV) volumes function (RVEF) and volumes; but with the introduction of 3D echocardiography, new echocardiographic possibilities for RV evaluation independent of geometrical assumptions have emerged. This study compared classic and new echocardiographic and radionuclide estimates, including gated blood pool single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of RV size and function to RV volumes, and ejection fraction (RVEF) measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-four subjects with (a) prior inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (n=17), (b) a history of pulmonary embolism and persistent dyspnea (n=7) or (c) normal subjects (n=10) had 2D and 3D echocardiography, SPECT and MRI within 24h. End-diastolic volume and peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity were increased in patients with a history of pulmonary embolism compared to healthy subjects, 130+/-26 ml vs. 94+/-26 ml, P<0.05, and 3.3+/-1.1m/s vs. 2.3+/-0.3m/s, P<0.05, respectively, whereas no differences in RVEF were seen in the three groups. Echocardiographic as well as SPECT estimates of RV volume showed significant correlation to RV volumes by MRI. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) had the better correlation to RVEF by MRI, r=0.48, P<0.01; whereas 3D echocardiography had a correlation of 0.42, P<0.05. Compared to MRI, 3D echocardiography underestimated RVEF by 5.9%, 95% limits of agreement 1.6-10.2%. CONCLUSION: 3D echocardiographic estimates of RV size and RVEF show only moderate correlation to MRI measures of these parameters, and simple 2D echocardiographic estimates of RV size and function show similar correlations. For routine clinical purposes the simple TAPSE may be preferred over 3D and SPECT techniques for RVEF estimation.