Evaluation of right ventricular function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by strain rate imaging

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the right ventricular function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by strain rate imaging. Methods Echocardiography were performed in 41 patients with COPD and 20 controls. Right ventricular frontal thickness (RVFT), right atrial end diastolic diameter(RAEDd) , right ventricular end diastolic diameter (RVEDd), right ventricular end diastolic area (RVEDa) ,right ventricular end systolic area (RVESa) (fraction of right ventricular area change (RVFA) and E/A of tricuspid valve flow were measured in 4-chamber apical view. Tissue velocity imaging (TVI) were accepted in apical four chamber apical views. The indies included peak systolic strain rate (SRs) ,peak early diastolic strain rate (SRe) ,peak late diastolic strain rate (SRa) and SRe/SRa. Results According the pulmonary pressure, the patients with COPD were divided into 2 groups: group PAH (pulmonary artery hypertension) and group NPAH (non-pulmonary artery hypertension). Compared with controls, RVFT, RAEDd and RVEDd of group PAH increased significantly, RVFA and E/A decreased significantly, the upper indices of group NPAH had no significant difference, SRs, SRe and SRe/ SRa of right ventricular free wall and interventricular septal in group PAH and group NPAH decreased significantly, but there was no significant difference of SRa. Compared with group NPAH,SRs,SRe and SRe/SRa of right ventricular free wall and interventricular septal in group PAH decreased significantly,but there was no significant difference of SRa; there was significant positive correlation between SRs of right ventricular free wall and FEV1 /FVC, DLco/VA in patients with COPD,but there was no significant correlation between SRe of right ventricular free wall and RVFA, E/A,FEV1 /FVC and DLco/VA. Conclusions Function of right ventricle in patients with COPD can be damaged with or without pulmonary hypertention; SRI can detect right ventricular function in these patients easily and noninvasive. Key words: Echocardiography; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Ventricular function, right; Strain rate imaging