Background: Right ventricular (RV) function is a key determinant of survival in pulmonary hypertension (PHT). The aim of this study was to assess the right ventricular function by echocardiography in patients with PHT. Methods: We studied a cohort of 44 consecutive patients with idiopathic or shunt-associated pulmonary hypertension by two dimensional color Doppler flow echocardiography for measurement the parameters of right ventricular function.
Results: The mean age was 34.4 ± 11.3 years and 84% were female. The mean FS RV areas was 25.4 ± 8.6 %, mean TAPSE was 10.2 ± 3 cm, mean diastolic EI was 1.81 ± 0.4, mean systolic EI was 1.78 ± 0.6, mean RV free wall thickness was 7.9 mm ± 2.1, mean RV/LV ratio was 2.0 ± 0.8, mean tricuspid ratio was 1.4 ± 0.6, mean RIMP was 0.84 ± 0.3, mean VC was 5.5 ± 2.3, mean PAP was 110 mmHg ± 33 and LVEF was 66.4% ± 8.4. The RV/LV ratio (r= 62%, p ≤ 0.000), systolic EI (r=64%, p≤ 0.000), and diastolic EI (r=64%, p≤ 0.000) was directly associated with PHT and the FSRV is inversely associated with PHT (r=32%, p≤ 0.03). Conclusions: Echocardiography is a non invasive technique that allows quantification of right ventricular function and detection of RV dysfunction in PHT. A direct relationship between a RV/LV ratio, systolic and diastolic EI and PHT was found and the relationship between FSRV and PHT was inverse.