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Right Atrial Evaluation in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension
Author(s) -
Deng Yan,
Guo Sheng-lan,
Wu Wei-feng,
Wang Qian,
Su Hong-yue,
Tan Zhen,
Wang Fen,
He Qun-yan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/ultra.15.01028
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , ventricle , pulmonary hypertension , right atrium
Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the morphologic characteristics and performance of the right atrium (RA) that occur secondary to structural remodeling of the right ventricle (RV) in patients with pulmonary hypertension by real‐time 3‐dimensional echocardiography (3DE). Methods Comprehensive 2‐dimensional echocardiography and real‐time 3DE were performed in 112 patients and 30 healthy control participants. Patients with pulmonary hypertension were divided into 3 subgroups: 1, normal RV dimension (n = 34); 2, RV enlargement and preserved systolic function (n = 36); and 3, RV enlargement and systolic dysfunction (n = 42). Results Patients had larger RA volume parameters and lower RA passive emptying fractions than controls ( P < .01). The RA active emptying fraction was higher in patient groups 1 (mean ± SD, 45.5% ± 10.7%) and 2 (40.1% ± 4.0%) and lower in group 3 (19.3% ± 4.3%) compared to controls (35.4% ± 3.5%). The RA total emptying fraction was similar between groups 1 and 2 (59.3% ± 9.7% and 52.6% ± 3.4%, respectively) but was significantly lower in group 3 compared to controls (26.8% ± 5.1% versus 55.2% ± 5.1%). Right atrial volume and phasic function were substantially affected by RV structure and function. Conclusions Real‐time 3DE is a feasible, repeatable, and noninvasive method for accessing cyclic RA volume and function changes, such as those that occur with varying RV status in patients with pulmonary hypertension.