P899 Reduced right ventricular longitudinal function in patients with chronic left ventricular disease can be due to left ventricular forward failure and not right ventricular dysfunction

Abstract

Abstract Background and aim The occurrence of right ventricular failure (RVF) in patients with chronic left heart disease (LHD) has important therapeutic and prognostic consequences. Echocardiography (Echo) parameters describing the RV longitudinal function (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, TAPSE; peak systolic free wall longitudinal strain, RV-Str; tricuspid annulus peak systolic velocity, TAPSm) are today commonly used to define RV dysfunction. In the present study we hypothesised that these parameters are load dependent. Methods We retrospectively included 66 patients with LHD (age 52 ± 13 years, males 79%) that underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) and Echo within 48 hours. RHC was performed as part of diagnostic- or pre-transplant work-up. Fifty-six patients (85%) had left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%. From RHC data the patients were divided into three groups: Patients with RV decompensation and increased right atrial pressure (RAP) ≥10 mmHg (iRAP, n = 21), with normal RAP but reduced stroke volume index (SVI < 35 mL/m2) (rSVI, n = 21) and with normal RAP and normal SVI (nSVI, n = 24). Results Patients with iRAP had compared with rSVI/nSVI more advanced LHD with higher PAMP, PCWP and larger RV diastolic area (RVdA). TAPSE, RV-Str and FAC did not differ between iRAP and rSVI patients. The ratio RVdA/RV-Str was significantly higher in iRAP patients compared with rSVI and nSVI. The rSVI and nSVI patients did not differ regarding RAP response during supine exercise (P = 0.84). Conclusions Reduced RV longitudinal function in patients with chronic LHD and normal RAP can be due to left ventricular forward failure and not RV systolic dysfunction. iRAP (n = 21) rSVI (n = 21) nSVI (n = 24) Overall P-value iRAP vs rSVI iRAP vs nSVI rSVI vs nSVI RAP (mmHg) 13 ± 2 5 ± 3 4 ± 2 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 0.34 PAMP (mmHg) 33 ± 8 24 ± 8 22±] <0.001 0.001 <0.001 0.34 PCWP (mmHg) 22 ± 5 16 ± 8 11 ± 6 <0.001 0.003 <0.001 0.025 CI (l/min/m2) 2.2 ± 0.4 2.2 ± 0.4 2.8 ± 0.5 <0.001 0.75 <0.001 <0.001 PVR (Wood unit) 2.6 ± 1.2 1.5 ± 1.6 1.9 ± 1.0 0.032 0.022 0.035 0.60 RVdA (cm2) 26 ± 7 21 ± 7 21 ± 5 0.012 0.007 0.017 0.63 TAPSE (mm) 12 ± 3 13 ± 3 18 ± 6 <0.001 0.28 <0.001 0.001 TAPSm (cm/s) 8 ± 2 8 ± 2 10 ± 4 0.06 - - - RV-str (%) -15 ± 5 -17 ± 5 -21 ± 6 0.002 0.11 0.001 0.028 FAC (%) 28 ± 9 29 ± 11 39 ± 11 <0.001 0.72 0.001 0.003 RVdA/RV-str (cm2/%) 2.2 ± 1.3 1.3 ± 0.7 1.1 ± 0.6 <0.001 0.013 0.001 0.27