Study of the shape and function of right atrium in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension and the influencing factors

Abstract

Objective To assess the volume and function of right atrium(RA) in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension(PH) by echocardiography and explore the influencing factors of these changes.Methods The study include 20 healthy participants as the control group and 57 patients with chronic PH as the case group.The patients were divided into three groups: low-grade PH, midrange PH and severe PH.Maximal RA volume index(VmaxI), minimal RA volume index(VminI), pre-atrial contraction RA volume index( VpreI), reservoir volume index(RVI), conduit volume index(CVI), contraction-chamber volume index (CCVI) were measured and calculated.The diameter of tricuspid valve and the late-diastole peak velocity of the bloodstream(Va) were measured,and then RA ejection force(RAEF) could be calculated.Systolic strain rate(RASRs), early diastolic strain rate (RASRe), and late diastolic strain rate (RASRa) of RA free wall were measured respectively.The correlation between pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF),the tissue Doppler of RV free wall(Ea/Aa) and the parameters of RA were analysed,and the main factors influencing the volume and function of RA were exploxed.Results With the rising of PASP, the RA volume changed obviously.And CCVI, RAEF, RVI, RASRs and the absolute value of RASRa increased gradually, but CVI decreased gradually.PASP, RVEF and Ea/Aa correlated with the parameters of RA.The main factors influencing the Vprel were EDVI, Ea/Aa and the course of disease,and VpreI and PASP mainly influenced the RAEF.Conclusions In patients with chronic PH the volume and function of RA changed,and some index of which was infuenced by PASP, RVEF, Ea/Aa and so on. Key words: Echocardiography; Atrial function, right; Hypertension, pulmonary