Right ventricular remodeling determines tricuspid valve geometry and the severity of functional tricuspid regurgitation: a real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography study.
OBJECTIVE
Right ventricle (RV) remodeling can determine tricuspid valve (TV) geometry and the severity of functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR).


METHODS
In 53 patients with various degrees of functional TR and in sinus rhythm, RV and TV geometries were analyzed using real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography, including tenting angles of 3 leaflets, septal-lateral and antero-posterior tricuspid annulus diameters and inlet RV dimensions, mid-RV septal-lateral dimension, and the distance between annulus and apex. A mid-systole frame when the TV tenting is smallest was selected for the analysis. RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were measured. The severity of functional TR was determined by distal jet area.


RESULTS
TR distal jet area was mainly determined by septal-lateral annulus diameter (p<0.001) RV inlet dimension (p=0.015), RV end-systolic volume (p=0.010), septal (p=0.019), and anterior leaflet tenting angles (p=0.045) by multiple stepwise linear regression analysis. Leaflet tenting angles were mainly determined by septal-lateral RV inlet dimension. Septal-lateral annulus diameter was determined by septal-lateral RV inlet dimension (p<0.001) and mid RV dimension (p=0.033), whereas antero-posterior annulus diameter was determined by antero-posterior RV inlet dimension (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Functional TR severity is determined by septal-lateral annulus and RV dilation, and tenting of septal and anterior leaflets. TV leaflet tenting is mainly determined by septal-lateral RV inlet dilation, and tricuspid annulus dilation is closely linked with inlet RV dilation.
Division of Cardiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jong-Min
JM
Song
Min-Kyoung
MK
Jang
Yun-Jeong
YJ
Kim
Dae-Hee
DH
Kim
Duk-Hyun
DH
Kang
Jae-Kwan
JK
Song