Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Patients with Severe and
Very Severe Mitral Stenosis
Abstract
Background: Right Ventricular (RV) failure has a critical role in the
onset and progression of clinical symptoms and the prognosis of patients
with Mitral Stenosis (MS), but the exact role, effect, and
pathophysiology of RV dysfunction in MS is still controversial. In this
study, we aimed to evaluate echocardiographic signs of systolic RV
dysfunction using Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) and Velocity Vector
Imaging (VVI) in subjects with severe and very severe MS. Methods: 46
isolated MS cases (23 severe and 23 very severe) and 23 healthy controls
were enrolled in this study. RV function was assessed by tricuspid
annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC),
and peak systolic velocity of the tricuspid annulus (S’) using TDI, and
RV free wall strain (RVFWS) employing VVI. Furthermore, these values
were compared with mitral valve area (MVA) and pulmonary arterial
pressure (PAP). Results: TAPSE, FAC, S’, and RVFWS values were
substantially declined in MS cases compared with healthy controls.
Moreover, PAP values were considerably increased in MS subjects.
Additionally, S’ and TAPSE values were significantly lower in very
severe MS patients compared with severe patients. Conclusion: RV
systolic function deteriorates in patients with severe and very severe
MS. It appears that the degree of the severity of MS can proportionately
affect the extent of RV dysfunction and some of its echocardiographic
markers such as S’ and TAPSE. TDI and VVI can be used as practical early
diagnostic methods for RV dysfunction in MS.