Echo-Doppler measures of right ventricular systolic function are affected by reduced left ventricular systolic function.

Background: Objective right ventricular (RV) systolic function assessment is attained using a series of well-described and validated echo-Doppler measurements. However, how left ventricular (LV) systolic function influences these RV functional measurements has not been previously studied. Consequently, we conducted a retrospective proof-of-concept analysis to answer this important question.

Methods: A total of 100 echocardiographic studies were included and patients were divided into two groups according to their LV ejection fraction (LVEF). The following RV variables were acquired including, tricuspid annular systolic plane excursion (TAPSE), velocity of the systolic motion (TA TDI s'), RV outflow tract velocity time integral (VTI), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and the TAPSE to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) ratio.

Results: Not only TAPSE, TA DI s', RVOT VTI, PVR, and TAPSE/PASP were all significantly different between patients with normal versus abnormal LVEF; but most importantly, RVOT VTI (p < .0001) was the best discriminatory variable in assessing normal versus abnormal LVEF followed by TAPSE (p = .0001). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an RVOT VTI value > 11 identified patients with a normal LVEF with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 76%.

Conclusion: Based on our results, reduced LVEF affects the RV, likely mediated by mechanisms of interventricular dependence. Therefore, RV analysis cannot be performed in isolation as it not only reflects intrinsic RV systolic function but also, is dependent on LV systolic function. In cases of reduced LVEF, additional measures of RV assessment should be used to provide better objective assessments.