Right ventricular presystolic peak velocity represents right ventricular function in stable patients.
BACKGROUND
Right ventricular (RV) function is difficult to be measured but plays a role in morbility and mortality of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases, so many echocardiographic parameters have been developed from M-mode, B-mode and Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) evaluation. Right ventricular presystolic peak velocity (RVPrP) measured with DTI of the tricuspidal annulus and its changes in RV dysfunction have never been assessed in a patient's cohort of stable patients with cardiovascular risk factors. RVPrP velocity could have a role in RV function evaluation; this study addresses such issue.


METHODS
Four hundred thirty-six consecutive patients were submitted to a complete echocardiographic examination with the contemporary evaluation of the following RV function indexes: Tricuspid Annulus Plane Systolic Excurtion (TAPSE), RV Systolic Peak (RVSyP) and RVPrP. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), left ventricular and RV diastolic function were also evaluated.


RESULTS
According to TAPSE and RVSyP taken alone or in combination, 113 patients had RV dysfunction, while 323 patients had normal RV function. RVPrP was reduced in patient's group with RV dysfunction with respect to patient's group with preserved RV function (16.48±7.3 cm/s vs. 23.98±8.4 cm/s, respectively, P<0.001). RVPrP was related with RVSyP (P<0.001) and with TAPSE (P=0.002). TAPSE and RVSyP revealed a poor concordance to define RV dysfunction. PASP was higher in patient's group with reduced RV function (P=0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed RVPrP able to detect stable patients with RV dysfunction.
Cardiology Service, Department of Primary Care, Azienda USL Modena, Modena, Italy - p.giovanardi@ausl.mo.it.
Paolo
P
Giovanardi
Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Nuovo Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense, Modena, Italy.
Enrico
E
Tincani
Department of Cardiology-Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hesperia Hospital, Modena, Italy.
Guglielmo
G
Stefanelli
Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Nuovo Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense, Modena, Italy.
Fabrizio
F
Turrini
Cardiology Division, Nuovo Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense Modena, Modena, Italy.
Paolo
P
Magnavacchi
Cardiology Division, Nuovo Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense Modena, Modena, Italy.
Stefania
S
Sansoni
Cardiology Division, Nuovo Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense Modena, Modena, Italy.
Mauro
M
Zennaro
Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Nuovo Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense, Modena, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Pinelli
Cardiology Division, Nuovo Ospedale S. Agostino-Estense Modena, Modena, Italy.
Stefano
S
Tondi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*