Long-term follow-up in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy using tissue Doppler imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To study patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and describe different echocardiographic parameters and their change over time during almost 10 years follow-up period.


METHODS
Fifteen patients (9 male, 6 female), aged 22-58 years (mean 40) with a diagnosis of ARVC, were followed up for a period of 6-10 years (mean 8.7). Twelve-lead and a signal- averaged ECG was recorded. Tricuspid and mitral annular motion and tissue Doppler imaging were registered by echocardiography. Wall motion score index (WMSI) was calculated for the left and right ventricles.


RESULTS
We registered significant reduction in systolic tissue velocity on right ventricle free wall between the first and last investigations: 7-17 cm/s (mean 11.8) to 4-15 (mean 9.1), p=0.005. WMSI increased by at least 0.2 in 10/14 patients for the right and in 8/15 patients for the left ventricle. A decrease in velocity time integral for the left ventricular outflow was observed (16-30 to 13-21, p=0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
ARVC is a progressive disease with individual variation. Left ventricular involvement may occur early in the disease. Tissue Doppler imaging is a useful tool to follow-up right ventricular abnormalities.
Aneq
Meriam Aström
MA
Department of Clinical Physiology, University Hospital, Linkoping, Sweden. meriam.astrom.aneq@lio.se
Lindström
Lena
L
Fluur
Christina
C
Nylander
Eva
E
D000328:Adult; D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right