title: Right ventricular performance in severe obesity. Effect of weight loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of severe obesity on right ventricular function in the absence of associated cardiopulmonary disease are not well known. Right myocardial performance index (R-MPI) is an echocardiographic index to non-invasively assess the right ventricular function. The aim of our study was to assess R-MPI in individuals with severe but uncomplicated obesity before and after a significant weight loss induced by bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen obese females (OB) without cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases were examined. In all subjects, R-MPI was calculated by Doppler echocardiography as the sum of isovolumetric contraction time and isovolumetric relaxation time divided by ejection time. Furthermore, pulmonary function test (PFT) and 6-min walking test (6mWT) were performed. Ten healthy subjects with normal weight (HS) were also evaluated as controls. R-MPI, PFT and 6mWT were also re-evaluated one year later in 12 obese subjects treated with gastric banding after a consistent weight loss (> 20%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A prolongation of R-MPI was found in OB before bariatric surgery in comparison to the HS (0.47 +/- 0.04 and 0.29 +/- 0.05, respectively; P < 0.001). R-MPI significantly improved in OB 12 months after surgery (0.32 +/- 0.03) and was no longer different from HS. R-MPI positively correlated to body mass index (BMI). A significant association was found between the reduction of BMI after bariatric surgery and the distance walked during the 6mWT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show a right ventricular dysfunction in severe uncomplicated obesity, associated with an impaired functional capacity which recovers after consistent weight loss.
authors: Section of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital S. Maria della Pietà, Casoria, Largo delle Mimose 1, 80131 Naples, Italy. mauromaniscalco@hotmail.com
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Maniscalco
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Arciello
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Zedda
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Faraone
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Verde
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Giardiello
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Cacciapuoti
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Cacciapuoti
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sofia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right; D015431:Weight Loss