Prevalence and pathophysiologic attributes of ventricular dyssynchrony in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to investigate the prevalence and mechanisms underlying right ventricular (RV) dyssynchrony in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE).


BACKGROUND
An ARVD/C is characterized by fibrofatty replacement of RV myocardium and RV dilation. These pathologic changes may result in electromechanical dyssynchrony.


METHODS
Echocardiography, both conventional and TDE, was performed in 52 ARVD/C patients fulfilling Task Force criteria and 25 control subjects. The RV end-diastolic and -systolic areas, right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), and left ventricular (LV) volumes and function were assessed. Mechanical synchrony was assessed by measuring differences in time-to-peak systolic velocity (T(SV)) between the RV free wall, ventricular septum, and LV lateral wall. An RV dyssynchrony was defined as the difference in T(SV) between the RV free wall and the ventricular septum, >2 SD above the mean value for control subjects.


RESULTS
The mean difference in RV T(SV) was higher in ARVD/C compared with control subjects (55 +/- 34 ms vs. 26 +/- 15 ms, p < 0.001). Significant RV dyssynchrony was not noted in any of the control subjects. Based on a cutoff value of 56 ms, significant RV dyssynchrony was present in 26 ARVD/C patients (50%). Patients with RV dyssynchrony had a larger RV end-diastolic area (22 +/- 5 cm(2) vs. 19 +/- 4 cm(2), p = 0.02), and lower RVFAC (29 +/- 8% vs. 34 +/- 8%, p = 0.03) compared with ARVD/C patients without RV dyssynchrony. No differences in QRS duration, LV volumes, or function were present between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
An RV dyssynchrony may occur in up to 50% of ARVD/C patients, and is associated with RV remodeling. This finding may have therapeutic and prognostic implications in ARVD/C.
Tops
Laurens F
LF
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Prakasa
Kalpana
K
Tandri
Harikrishna
H
Dalal
Darshan
D
Jain
Rahul
R
Dimaano
Veronica L
VL
Dombroski
David
D
James
Cynthia
C
Tichnell
Crystal
C
Daly
Amy
A
Marcus
Frank
F
Schalij
Martin J
MJ
Bax
Jeroen J
JJ
Bluemke
David
D
Calkins
Hugh
H
Abraham
Theodore P
TP
D000328:Adult; D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling