Prognostic value of right ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with inferior ST elevated myocardial infarction

Abstract

Abstract Background Right ventricle infarction (RVI) is predominantly a complication of inferior wall myocardial infarction; it occurs in approximately one third of these patients. Right ventricle dysfunction in patients with inferior STEMI and RV infarction was under assessed. Nevertheless, studies which targeted RV assessment by echocardiography, did not evaluate RV diastolic dysfunction. Purpose In this study, we aimed to evaluate RV diastolic dysfunction and its prognostic value in patients with inferior STEMI and RVI. Methods Sixty patients with inferior STEMI and RV infarction, who underwent primary PCI were enrolled in the study. Presence of a pre-existing clinical conditions that might affect RV function, were excluded. Echocardiography was performed within twenty-four hours following the PCI, to assess the RV systolic and diastolic functions with special focus on tricuspid inflow velocities (E velocity, A velocity and E/A ratio) by pulsed wave (PW) doppler and tricuspid annular velocities by tissue doppler index (TDI) (e', a' and E/e' ratio). Clinical features and MACE, including cardiogenic shock, arrhythmia, stroke, reinfarction and death were analyzed in all our patients within 3 months follow up period. Results The average age of the study population was 51.58±10.11 years, 10% were females. Five patients developed MACE (death, cardiogenic shock and pulmonary oedema, anterior STEMI and cardiogenic shock, recurrent inferior STEMI, and arrhythmia and stroke), of whom four occurred in hospital within the first 48 hours. Patients who developed MACE had high filling pressures, as all of them had E/e' >6. E' velocity ≤6 cm/s was associated with increased MACE as 25% of patients with e' velocity ≤6 cm/s had MACE compared with 2.3% of patients with e' velocity >6 cm/s with a P value of 0.015. Conclusions Because tricuspid inflow velocities by PW doppler varies with respiration, volume status and other conditions, tricuspid annular velocities by TDI are essential when evaluating RV diastolic dysfunction. E/e' and e' has a prognostic value in patients with Inferior STEMI and RV infarction. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.