Assessment of right ventricular contraction by speckle tracking echocardiography in pulmonary hypertension patients

Background: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of right ventricular (RV) contraction in the circumferential direction in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients by speckle tracking echocardiography, and evaluate the correlation between RV circumferential strain (CS) and RV 2D parameters such as fractional area change (FAC) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Methods: Total 30 patients diagnosed with PH and 20 healthy volunteers were included. Echocardiography was performed. RVCS at 9 segments were quantified and their relationship with RVFAC and TAPSE was investigated. Results: Peak systolic CS was significantly reduced at the anterior wall, lateral wall, inferior wall in the basal level and lateral wall in the middle level in PH patients compared to healthy volunteers, peak CS at the free wall in the basal level and lateral wall in the middle level showed a modest correlation with RVFAC and TAPSE. Conclusions: RVCS measured by speckle tracking echocardiography is a feasible and reliable technique for rapid quantification of RV regional function. RV contraction in the circumferential direction is significantly reduced at the free wall in the basal level and the lateral wall in the middle level in PH patients.