Evaluation of right heart function changes in patients with pulmonary hypertension via two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging: a retrospective study

Objective: To realize the changes in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients' right ventricular function. Methods: A total number of 74 patients with PH were included, and the parameters of standard echocardiographic were measured as well as the strain of peak longitudinal of each segment during the systole of the right ventricle to calculate the global longitudinal strain (LS) during systole of the right ventricular free wall. Results: (1) As pulmonary arterial pressure increased, the right ventricular area gradually increased, and the case group showed the decreased right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TA PSE), and tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (S') (p < 0.05). They, RVFAC, and TA PSE depicted significant differences that were statistical (p < 0.05) from the other groups. (2) With increasing pulmonary arterial pressure, the right ventricular free wall's LS gradually reduced (p < 0.05). Conclusion: (1) LS right ventricular free wall is useful in detecting changes in right ventricular systolic function early on with greater sensitivity than RVFAC, TA PSE, and S'. In addition, increased right ventricular pressure loading can result in a subsequent impairment of right ventricular myocardial mechanics (2). As right ventricular pressure loading increases, right ventricular strain decreases (3). In mild PH, the right ventricular free wall's. LS is more sensitive than standard measures in spotting early alterations in myocardial mechanics.