Hernandez-Suarez DF, Lopez Menendez FR, Palm D, Lopez-Candales A. Left Ventricular Diastolic Function Assessment of a Heterogeneous Cohort of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients.
J Clin Med Res 2017;
9:353-359. [PMID:
28270896 PMCID:
PMC5330779 DOI:
10.14740/jocmr2925w]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is known to trigger right ventricular (RV) remodeling that might compromise left ventricular (LV) filling due to inter-ventricular interdependence. In this study, we aimed to examine standard echocardiographic measurements of LV diastolic function in PAH patients.
METHODS
In this retrospective study, we identified clinical as well as complete echocardiographic data from 128 chronic PAH patients to fully assess LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) using standard recommended Doppler guidelines. Accordingly, patients were divided into three groups: LVDD 0, LVDD 1 and LVDD 2.
RESULTS
The mean age of the studied population was 57 ± 14 years with a mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) of 55 ± 21 mm Hg. A total of 36% of the study patients had normal LV diastolic function. However, 64% had LVDD with LVDD stage 1 being the most common (48%). In terms of echocardiographic data, significant differences were found among the three LVDD groups in regards to PASP, LV end systolic and diastolic volumes, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, right ventricular fractional area change as well as many other tissue Doppler imaging parameters. Finally, just age and PASP were predictors of abnormal LV diastolic function (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Impaired relaxation is a common abnormality in PAH patients. Additional studies are warranted to determine whether LVDD alters prognosis or is related to changes in the symptomatic profile of this group of patients.
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