3D echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function and strain: a prognostic study in paediatric pulmonary hypertension

doi:10.1093/ehjci/jex205

3D echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function and strain: a prognostic study in paediatric pulmonary hypertension

2018-09-01 00:00:00 Abstract Aims To evaluate right ventricular functional indices using 3D echocardiography (3DE) between normal children and paediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients, and to evaluate these indices as outcome predictors in children with PH. Methods and results Ninety-six paediatric PH patients from 2014 to 2016 were compared with 40 normal controls. All patients underwent 3DE and off-line analysis generated 3D end-diastolic volume, 3D end-systolic volume, 3D stroke volume, 3D right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF), RV longitudinal strain (LS) free wall and septum, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and fractional area change (FAC). PH patients had higher RV volumes, lower RV EF, lower free wall and septal RVLS, lower TAPSE, and lower FAC compared with normal controls (all P < 0.001). 3D RV EF, free wall RVLS, and FAC are predictors of adverse clinical outcomes [hazard ratio (confidence interval) 0.1 (0.03–0.27], P < 0.001; 0.17 (0.07–0.45), P < 0.001; 0.08 (0.03–0.22); P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Paediatric PH patients have impaired RV function compared with normal children. 3D RV EF, volumes, FAC, and free wall RV strain serve as outcome predictors for paediatric PH patients. 3D echocardiography, right ventricular function, paediatric pulmonary hypertension, myocardial strain, clinical outcomes Introduction Paediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease that results in right ventricular (RV) dysfunction; RV function is an important determinant of clinical status and survival in patients with PH.1–4 Because of the complex RV geometry, 2D echocardiography (2DE) cannot capture the inflow and outflow portions of the RV in the same image acquisition and cannot determine comprehensive function in one beat. Real time 3D echocardiography (3DE) has emerged as a feasible tool to quantitate RV function as it captures the complex geometric shape and has been validated with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.5–10 Single beat 3DE of the RV is accurate and reproducible in quantifying the RV.11–13 We previously demonstrated that this technique is feasible in paediatric PH patients and 3D RV EF correlated with invasive haemodynamics and severity of PH using biomarkers,14 but these parameters have not been used to evaluate prognosis. In addition to using 3D RV EF to quantify RV function, RV strain has been used in evaluating myocardial function and has predictive potential in both adult and paediatric PH population.1,15–18 Although quantitative assessment of RV function using 3DE and strain are feasible, it frequently requires different vendors’ software packages with transfer of images from different echocardiography machines to different offline packages that limit rapid clinical practice. Recently a vendor independent 3DE software (4D-RV Function 2) can generate RV size and functional parameters from one real-time 3DE dataset and enables an accurate, reproducible, and faster quantitation of RV function that requires less operator time.19 In this study, we evaluated RV functional indices generated from 3DE datasets between normal controls and paediatric PH patients, and evaluated these indices as outcome predictors in children with PH. Methods Study population This is a retrospective evaluation of paediatric PH patients from 2014 to 2016. PH patients were included if they had a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and associated pulmonary arterial hypertension with congenital heart disease (APAH-CHD) by cardiac catheterization with a mean pulmonary artery pressure >25 mmHg and were seen in PH clinic. World Health Organization Functional Classifications (WHO-FC) were identified in each patient at PH clinic visits. Patients were included if they had 2DE and 3DE on the same day. Patients were excluded if they were >18 years of age and if the echocardiographic images were poor for adequate tracing of the endocardial borders or if the entire RV could not be included in the apical four chamber view. Normal paediatric patients served as controls who had no cardiac defects or family history of cardiac disease or they were patients who were evaluated in the cardiology clinic for heart murmurs, chest pain, or syncope with normal structure hearts. This study was approved by the institutional review board at the University of Colorado. 2D and 3D echocardiography 2DE was performed on all children with PH and were digitally acquired using a standard protocol with appropriate sized transducers for patient size. Single beat full volume of 3DE RV datasets was acquired using the 4Z1c matrix-array transducer on the Siemens SC2000 cardiac ultrasound system (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany). An apical four chamber view was acquired with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. The transducer position was modified for optimal simultaneous visualization of the tricuspid valve, cardiac apex, and right ventricular outflow tract. 3DE RV datasets were digitally analysed offline using the commercial software (4D RV-Function 2.0, TomTec, Germany) to generate RV functional indices automatically: 3D end-diastolic volume (EDV), 3D end-systolic volume (ESV), 3D stroke volume (SV), 3D EF, 2D septal and free wall RV longitudinal strain (LS), 2D tricuspid annular pane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and 2D fractional area change (FAC), calculated as calculated as [(end-diastolic area) − (end-systolic area)/end-diastolic area] × 100% (Figure 1). End-diastole is defined as the time just before the tricuspid valve closure with the greatest RV volume and end-systole is when the RV cavity is the smallest. TAPSE is measured from the apex of the RV to the tricuspid valve annulus in systole and diastole. FAC is also measured in systole and diastole with adjustable tracking lines. Intraobserver variability was performed on 10 randomly selected PH patients at an interval of 4 weeks apart by P.N.J. Interobserver variability was also performed by two investigators (P.N.J. and C.B.) at an interval of 4 weeks apart. Figure 1 View largeDownload slide 4D right ventricular function 2 software automatically generate 3D volumes, ejection fraction, right ventricular strain, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and fractional area change. Figure 1 View largeDownload slide 4D right ventricular function 2 software automatically generate 3D volumes, ejection fraction, right ventricular strain, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and fractional area change. Clinical outcomes Clinical outcomes were analysed in all PH patients with pre-defined adverse clinical events. An adverse clinical event was defined as (i) initiation of intravenous prostacyclin, (ii) PAH-related hospitalization with increased RV failure or haemoptysis, (iii) creation of an atrial septostomy, (iv) Pott’s shunt, (v) lung transplant, or (vi) death. These adverse clinical outcomes were composite end points similar to previous medication trials in PAH.20 All patients were followed up until the clinical event or the end of the study period. Statistical analysis Analyses were performed using JMP 13.0 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Variables were checked for normality using normal plots, in addition to Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilks tests. All normally distributed data sets are reported as mean with standard deviations. Non-normally distributed values are reported as median values with interquartile ranges. Demographic and clinical characteristics among PH and control patients were compared using a student’s t-test for normally distributed continuous variables, Wilcoxon ranked sum test for non-normally distributed variables, and χ2 for categorical variables. Additional group comparisons were performed using Kruskal–Wallis or one-way analysis of variance tests between the PAH specific WHO-FC groups and PAH clinical diagnosis groups. Observer agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis. Univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis assessed the predictive ability of 3DE variables in all PH patients. For variables that were found to be significantly associated with survival univariate analysis, Kaplan–Meier survival curves were constructed with specific log-rank test with the predictor dichotomized to describe event-free survival where the most optimal cut-off values were identified by performing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for detection of adverse clinical events, specifically by finding Youden index to achieve maximum sensitivity and specificity. All patients were followed up to the particular event or the end of the study (December 2016). As sensitivity analysis, the above models were applied to IPAH patients only to examine their robustness. A multivariate analysis using step-up model and score method was applied. Significance was based on an α-level of 0.05. Results PH patients and controls There were 104 paediatric PH patients with IPAH and APAH-CHD from 2014 to 2016 with 8 (7%) PH patients excluded due to poor image quality, thus leaving 96 PH patients for analysis. Forty normal paediatric patients served as controls. Table 1 shows the clinical characteristics of PH patients and controls. There were 35% IPAH and 65% APAH-CHD patients. PH patients had higher volumes, lower EF, and lower free wall and septal RVLS, TAPSE, and FAC compared with normal controls (Table 1). IPAH patients had higher volumes and lower EF compared with APAH-CHD patients (all P < 0.01) as demonstrated in Table 2. IPAH group had worse PH with higher mean pulmonary artery pressure and higher pulmonary vascular resistance compared with APAH-CHD group. The myocardial strain between IPAH and APAH patients was not statistically different but the IPAH patients tended to have lower RV strain compared with APAH patient. Patients with different WHO-FC groups were different in their 3D functional indices (see Supplementary data online, Table S1). Patients with WHO-FC III and IV had higher RV volumes compared with WHO-FC I (all P < 0.01) and lower 3D RV EF compared with WHO-FC I or II (P < 0.001). Free wall RVLS was also worse in WHO-FC III and IV compared with WHO-FC II and I (P < 0.001). Table 1 Patient clinical characteristics PH (n = 96) Control (n = 40) P-value Age (years) 8.1 ± 5.2 9.4 ± 4.0 0.1339 Sex (female) 53 (55%) 20 (50%) 0.6261 BSA (m2) 1.04 ± 0.42 1.18 ± 0.46 0.0210 WHO-FC I 47 (49%) II 34 (29%) III 12 (12%) IV 3 (2%) IPAH 34 (35%) APAH-CHD 62 (65%) ASD s/p repair 15 (16%) VSD s/p repair 14 (15%) AVSD s/p repair 10 (10%) PDA s/p repair 8 (8%) CoA s/p repair 2 (2%) Absent RPA or LPA s/p repair 5 (5%) TGA s/p repair 1 (1%) PAPVR s/p repair 2 (2%) PVS s/p repair 2 (2%) Tricuspid valve dysplasia s/p repair 1 (1%) TAPVR s/p repair 2 (%) Medications PDE5i 65 (67%) IV Treprostinil 10 (10%) SC Treprostinil 4 (3%) Inhaled Treprostinil 6 (5%) IV Epoprostenol 2 (2%) ERA 43 (45%) CCB 13 (14%) RV functional indices EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 60 (45–66) 0.0002 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 25 (21–31) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 31 ± 8 0.0036 EF (%) 46 ± 5 55 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −20 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −28 ± 4 <0.0001 TAPSE (mm) 14 ± 4 17 ± 3 0.0043 FAC (%) 37 ± 7 44 ± 5 0.0001 PH (n = 96) Control (n = 40) P-value Age (years) 8.1 ± 5.2 9.4 ± 4.0 0.1339 Sex (female) 53 (55%) 20 (50%) 0.6261 BSA (m2) 1.04 ± 0.42 1.18 ± 0.46 0.0210 WHO-FC I 47 (49%) II 34 (29%) III 12 (12%) IV 3 (2%) IPAH 34 (35%) APAH-CHD 62 (65%) ASD s/p repair 15 (16%) VSD s/p repair 14 (15%) AVSD s/p repair 10 (10%) PDA s/p repair 8 (8%) CoA s/p repair 2 (2%) Absent RPA or LPA s/p repair 5 (5%) TGA s/p repair 1 (1%) PAPVR s/p repair 2 (2%) PVS s/p repair 2 (2%) Tricuspid valve dysplasia s/p repair 1 (1%) TAPVR s/p repair 2 (%) Medications PDE5i 65 (67%) IV Treprostinil 10 (10%) SC Treprostinil 4 (3%) Inhaled Treprostinil 6 (5%) IV Epoprostenol 2 (2%) ERA 43 (45%) CCB 13 (14%) RV functional indices EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 60 (45–66) 0.0002 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 25 (21–31) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 31 ± 8 0.0036 EF (%) 46 ± 5 55 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −20 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −28 ± 4 <0.0001 TAPSE (mm) 14 ± 4 17 ± 3 0.0043 FAC (%) 37 ± 7 44 ± 5 0.0001 Data are represented as mean ± SD. ASD, atrial septal defect; AVSD, atrioventricular septal defect; CCB, calcium channel blockers; CHD, congenital heart disease; CoA, coarctation of the aorta; EDVi, end-diastolic volume indexed; EF, ejection fraction; ERA, endothelin receptor antagonist; ESVi, end-systolic volume indexed; IPAH, idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; LPA, left pulmonary artery; PAPVR, partially anomalous pulmonary venous return; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; PDEi, phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibitors; PVS, pulmonary venous stenosis; RPA, right pulmonary artery; RVLS, right ventricular longitudinal strain; SVi, stroke volume indexed; TGA, transposition of great arteries; VSD, ventricular septal defect; WHO-FC, World Health Organization—Functional Class; SD, standard deviation. Table 1 Patient clinical characteristics PH (n = 96) Control (n = 40) P-value Age (years) 8.1 ± 5.2 9.4 ± 4.0 0.1339 Sex (female) 53 (55%) 20 (50%) 0.6261 BSA (m2) 1.04 ± 0.42 1.18 ± 0.46 0.0210 WHO-FC I 47 (49%) II 34 (29%) III 12 (12%) IV 3 (2%) IPAH 34 (35%) APAH-CHD 62 (65%) ASD s/p repair 15 (16%) VSD s/p repair 14 (15%) AVSD s/p repair 10 (10%) PDA s/p repair 8 (8%) CoA s/p repair 2 (2%) Absent RPA or LPA s/p repair 5 (5%) TGA s/p repair 1 (1%) PAPVR s/p repair 2 (2%) PVS s/p repair 2 (2%) Tricuspid valve dysplasia s/p repair 1 (1%) TAPVR s/p repair 2 (%) Medications PDE5i 65 (67%) IV Treprostinil 10 (10%) SC Treprostinil 4 (3%) Inhaled Treprostinil 6 (5%) IV Epoprostenol 2 (2%) ERA 43 (45%) CCB 13 (14%) RV functional indices EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 60 (45–66) 0.0002 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 25 (21–31) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 31 ± 8 0.0036 EF (%) 46 ± 5 55 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −20 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −28 ± 4 <0.0001 TAPSE (mm) 14 ± 4 17 ± 3 0.0043 FAC (%) 37 ± 7 44 ± 5 0.0001 PH (n = 96) Control (n = 40) P-value Age (years) 8.1 ± 5.2 9.4 ± 4.0 0.1339 Sex (female) 53 (55%) 20 (50%) 0.6261 BSA (m2) 1.04 ± 0.42 1.18 ± 0.46 0.0210 WHO-FC I 47 (49%) II 34 (29%) III 12 (12%) IV 3 (2%) IPAH 34 (35%) APAH-CHD 62 (65%) ASD s/p repair 15 (16%) VSD s/p repair 14 (15%) AVSD s/p repair 10 (10%) PDA s/p repair 8 (8%) CoA s/p repair 2 (2%) Absent RPA or LPA s/p repair 5 (5%) TGA s/p repair 1 (1%) PAPVR s/p repair 2 (2%) PVS s/p repair 2 (2%) Tricuspid valve dysplasia s/p repair 1 (1%) TAPVR s/p repair 2 (%) Medications PDE5i 65 (67%) IV Treprostinil 10 (10%) SC Treprostinil 4 (3%) Inhaled Treprostinil 6 (5%) IV Epoprostenol 2 (2%) ERA 43 (45%) CCB 13 (14%) RV functional indices EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 60 (45–66) 0.0002 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 25 (21–31) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 31 ± 8 0.0036 EF (%) 46 ± 5 55 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −20 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −28 ± 4 <0.0001 TAPSE (mm) 14 ± 4 17 ± 3 0.0043 FAC (%) 37 ± 7 44 ± 5 0.0001 Data are represented as mean ± SD. ASD, atrial septal defect; AVSD, atrioventricular septal defect; CCB, calcium channel blockers; CHD, congenital heart disease; CoA, coarctation of the aorta; EDVi, end-diastolic volume indexed; EF, ejection fraction; ERA, endothelin receptor antagonist; ESVi, end-systolic volume indexed; IPAH, idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; LPA, left pulmonary artery; PAPVR, partially anomalous pulmonary venous return; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; PDEi, phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibitors; PVS, pulmonary venous stenosis; RPA, right pulmonary artery; RVLS, right ventricular longitudinal strain; SVi, stroke volume indexed; TGA, transposition of great arteries; VSD, ventricular septal defect; WHO-FC, World Health Organization—Functional Class; SD, standard deviation. Table 2 Right ventricular functional indices between IPAH and APAH-CHD IPAH (n = 34) APAH-CHD (n = 62) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 101 (66–131) 61 (42–99) <0.0001 ESVi (mL/m2) 42 (33–70) 39 (32–47) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 39 ± 12 36 ± 12 0.2629 EF (%) 43 ± 4 46 ± 5 0.0123 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 0.3450 RVLS free wall (%) −20 ± 4 −22 ± 4 0.1137 mPAP (mmHg) 42 ± 19 25 ± 11 <0.0001 PVRi (WU.m2) 11 ± 7 5 ± 3 <0.0001 PAWP (mmHg) 8 ± 2 9 ± 3 0.0563 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 0.4757 CI (L/min/m2) 3.5 ± 0.8 4.6 ± 2.8 0.0161 IPAH (n = 34) APAH-CHD (n = 62) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 101 (66–131) 61 (42–99) <0.0001 ESVi (mL/m2) 42 (33–70) 39 (32–47) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 39 ± 12 36 ± 12 0.2629 EF (%) 43 ± 4 46 ± 5 0.0123 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 0.3450 RVLS free wall (%) −20 ± 4 −22 ± 4 0.1137 mPAP (mmHg) 42 ± 19 25 ± 11 <0.0001 PVRi (WU.m2) 11 ± 7 5 ± 3 <0.0001 PAWP (mmHg) 8 ± 2 9 ± 3 0.0563 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 0.4757 CI (L/min/m2) 3.5 ± 0.8 4.6 ± 2.8 0.0161 Data are represented as mean ± SD or medians with interquantile ranges. CI, cardiac index; mPAP, mean pulmonary arterial pressure; mRAP, mean right atrial pressure; PAWP, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure; PVRi, pulmonary vascular resistance index; SD, standard deviation; EDVi, end-diastolic volume indexed; ESVi, end-systolic volume indexed; EF, ejection fraction. Table 2 Right ventricular functional indices between IPAH and APAH-CHD IPAH (n = 34) APAH-CHD (n = 62) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 101 (66–131) 61 (42–99) <0.0001 ESVi (mL/m2) 42 (33–70) 39 (32–47) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 39 ± 12 36 ± 12 0.2629 EF (%) 43 ± 4 46 ± 5 0.0123 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 0.3450 RVLS free wall (%) −20 ± 4 −22 ± 4 0.1137 mPAP (mmHg) 42 ± 19 25 ± 11 <0.0001 PVRi (WU.m2) 11 ± 7 5 ± 3 <0.0001 PAWP (mmHg) 8 ± 2 9 ± 3 0.0563 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 0.4757 CI (L/min/m2) 3.5 ± 0.8 4.6 ± 2.8 0.0161 IPAH (n = 34) APAH-CHD (n = 62) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 101 (66–131) 61 (42–99) <0.0001 ESVi (mL/m2) 42 (33–70) 39 (32–47) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 39 ± 12 36 ± 12 0.2629 EF (%) 43 ± 4 46 ± 5 0.0123 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 0.3450 RVLS free wall (%) −20 ± 4 −22 ± 4 0.1137 mPAP (mmHg) 42 ± 19 25 ± 11 <0.0001 PVRi (WU.m2) 11 ± 7 5 ± 3 <0.0001 PAWP (mmHg) 8 ± 2 9 ± 3 0.0563 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 0.4757 CI (L/min/m2) 3.5 ± 0.8 4.6 ± 2.8 0.0161 Data are represented as mean ± SD or medians with interquantile ranges. CI, cardiac index; mPAP, mean pulmonary arterial pressure; mRAP, mean right atrial pressure; PAWP, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure; PVRi, pulmonary vascular resistance index; SD, standard deviation; EDVi, end-diastolic volume indexed; ESVi, end-systolic volume indexed; EF, ejection fraction. Clinical outcome analysis Over a follow-up of 24 months, there were 18 adverse clinical events. Two patients died, three underwent Pott’s shunt, one underwent clinically indicated septostomy, seven were started on IV prostacyclin therapy, and five had PAH related hospitalization. RV functional indices and haemodynamics of the 96 patients with and without adverse clinical events are shown in Table 3. There are significant differences between RV EDVi, RV EF, and free wall RVLS between the patients with and without clinical adverse events. The mean pulmonary artery pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance indices were higher in patients with adverse clinical events and the cardiac index was lower in patient with adverse clinical events. The RV functional indices that predicted hard clinical outcomes were 3D volumes, 3D RV EF, free wall RVLS, and 2D FAC in Figure 2 [reported as hazard ratio (95% CI)]. ROC curves for all RV functional indices are demonstrated in Figure 3. Kaplan–Meyer survival curves for observed predictors are shown in Figure 4 and confidence intervals in Supplementary data online, Figure S1. An EDVi ≥ 102 mL/m2, ESVi ≥ 54 mL/m2, SVi ≤ 37 mL/m2, 3D EF ≤ 43%, free wall RVLS ≤ −16, and FAC ≤ 32% were significantly associated with increased risk of adverse clinical events. Table 3 3D right ventricular indices and haemodynamics in pulmonary hypertension patients with and without adverse clinical events Adverse clinical events All patients (n = 96) Event free (n = 78) With event (n = 18) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 75 (45–105) 101 (69–153) 0.0312 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 40 (33–53) 44 (33–72) 0.0817 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 36 ± 12 42 ± 16 0.1542 EF (%) 46 ± 5 47 ± 4 39 ± 7 0.0002 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 −13 ± 5 0.0553 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −21 ± 4 −18 ± 5 0.0135 mPAP (mmHg) 32 ± 17 27 ± 13 48 ± 18 0.0002 PVRi (WU.m2) 7 ± 6 6 ± 4 12 ± 8 0.0075 PAWP (mmHg) 9 ± 3 8 ± 2 9 ± 5 0.6769 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 7 ± 3 0.5621 CI (L/min/m2) 4.1 ± 1.9 4.3 ± 2.1 3.3 ± 0.7 0.0075 Adverse clinical events All patients (n = 96) Event free (n = 78) With event (n = 18) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 75 (45–105) 101 (69–153) 0.0312 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 40 (33–53) 44 (33–72) 0.0817 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 36 ± 12 42 ± 16 0.1542 EF (%) 46 ± 5 47 ± 4 39 ± 7 0.0002 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 −13 ± 5 0.0553 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −21 ± 4 −18 ± 5 0.0135 mPAP (mmHg) 32 ± 17 27 ± 13 48 ± 18 0.0002 PVRi (WU.m2) 7 ± 6 6 ± 4 12 ± 8 0.0075 PAWP (mmHg) 9 ± 3 8 ± 2 9 ± 5 0.6769 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 7 ± 3 0.5621 CI (L/min/m2) 4.1 ± 1.9 4.3 ± 2.1 3.3 ± 0.7 0.0075 Data are represented as mean ± SD or medians with interquantile ranges. Please see abbreviations from Tables 1 and 2. Table 3 3D right ventricular indices and haemodynamics in pulmonary hypertension patients with and without adverse clinical events Adverse clinical events All patients (n = 96) Event free (n = 78) With event (n = 18) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 75 (45–105) 101 (69–153) 0.0312 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 40 (33–53) 44 (33–72) 0.0817 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 36 ± 12 42 ± 16 0.1542 EF (%) 46 ± 5 47 ± 4 39 ± 7 0.0002 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 −13 ± 5 0.0553 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −21 ± 4 −18 ± 5 0.0135 mPAP (mmHg) 32 ± 17 27 ± 13 48 ± 18 0.0002 PVRi (WU.m2) 7 ± 6 6 ± 4 12 ± 8 0.0075 PAWP (mmHg) 9 ± 3 8 ± 2 9 ± 5 0.6769 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 7 ± 3 0.5621 CI (L/min/m2) 4.1 ± 1.9 4.3 ± 2.1 3.3 ± 0.7 0.0075 Adverse clinical events All patients (n = 96) Event free (n = 78) With event (n = 18) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 75 (45–105) 101 (69–153) 0.0312 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 40 (33–53) 44 (33–72) 0.0817 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 36 ± 12 42 ± 16 0.1542 EF (%) 46 ± 5 47 ± 4 39 ± 7 0.0002 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 −13 ± 5 0.0553 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −21 ± 4 −18 ± 5 0.0135 mPAP (mmHg) 32 ± 17 27 ± 13 48 ± 18 0.0002 PVRi (WU.m2) 7 ± 6 6 ± 4 12 ± 8 0.0075 PAWP (mmHg) 9 ± 3 8 ± 2 9 ± 5 0.6769 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 7 ± 3 0.5621 CI (L/min/m2) 4.1 ± 1.9 4.3 ± 2.1 3.3 ± 0.7 0.0075 Data are represented as mean ± SD or medians with interquantile ranges. Please see abbreviations from Tables 1 and 2. Figure 2 View largeDownload slide Univariate Cox proportional analysis of right ventricular indices in PH patients. Data are reported as hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals per one standard deviation increase per given parameter. Figure 2 View largeDownload slide Univariate Cox proportional analysis of right ventricular indices in PH patients. Data are reported as hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals per one standard deviation increase per given parameter. Figure 3 View largeDownload slide Receiver operating characteristics of 3D right ventricular functional indices. Figure 3 View largeDownload slide Receiver operating characteristics of 3D right ventricular functional indices. Figure 4 View largeDownload slide Kaplan–Meyer curves for adverse clinical events. Figure 4 View largeDownload slide Kaplan–Meyer curves for adverse clinical events. Of the 18 adverse clinical events, 15 events occurred in IPAH patients and 3 events occurred in APAH-CHD patients. Our sub-analysis of outcomes in IPAH patients demonstrated the same RV functional indices (3D volumes, 3D RV EF, free wall RVLS, and 2D FAC) that predicted hard outcomes when combining the two groups (see Supplementary data online, Table S2). A multivariate analysis in IPAH patients revealed that the ESVi was an independent predictor of clinical events. SVi and EF were the two predictors with the highest Fisher’s score. Due to limited number of adverse clinical events (n = 3) in 62 APAH-CHD patients, we were unable to perform multivariate analysis in this group. Intraobserver and interobserver variability The ICC showed good agreements on RV EDV, ESV, SV, EF, RV septal and free wall strain, TAPSE, and FAC (0.96, 0.99, 0.75, 0.97, 0.83, 0.84, 0.78, and 0.96, respectively) for intraobserver variability comparisons in RV functional indices. The ICC showed good agreement for RV EDV, ESV, SV, EF, and RVLS free wall (0.80, 0.83, 0.78, 0.93, and 0.82, respectively) and showed moderate agreement in RVLS septal, TAPSE, and FAC (0.63, 0.66, and 0.64, respectively) for interobserver comparisons in RV functional indices. Discussion This study demonstrated the prognostic significance of 3D RV functional indices in paediatric PH patients. Paediatric PH patients have impaired RV function compared with normal children. We found that 3D volumes, 3D RV EF, FAC, and free wall RVLS were significant outcome predictors for paediatric PH patients. Previously, we demonstrated that 3D RV EF correlated well with invasive haemodynamics and biomarkers of severity in paediatric PH population.14 3DE minimizes geometric assumptions of RV and is more accurate in evaluating ventricular function. Our study demonstrated that PH patients have larger RV volumes with low EF and longitudinal strain compared with normal controls. Within the two different PH groups, we observed that IPAH patients have worse RV functional indices compared with APAH-CHD patients. In our sub-analysis of IPAH patients, the outcome predictors remained the same as the entire group of 96 PH patients. Using a multivariate analysis, we demonstrated that ESVi was an independent predictor of adverse clinical events in IPAH patients and that using the Fisher’s score method, we found that the model with SVi and EF as predictors is better than any other models with two predictors. As expected in PH patients with worse functional class and disease severity, their RV volumes were larger with prominent decrease in RV EF. Vitarelli et al.21,22 demonstrated that 3D RV EF provided better diagnostic accuracy in predicting RV failure haemodynamics compared with conventional echocardiography in adult patients with chronic PH and that RV EF decreases in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and correlated with unfavourable outcomes. 3DE has incremental value over 2DE in identifying RV dysfunction in patients with pressure or volume overload.11 Murata et al.23 demonstrated that 3D RV EF was superior to mean pulmonary artery pressure in predicting associated clinical events. As the RV volumes get progressively bigger, the RV function declines with decreased RV EF. Ryo et al.24 also demonstrated that quantitative 3DE in adult PH patients was associated with clinical outcomes and that 3D RV EF was a predictive parameter for combined end point. Our study demonstrates that 3D RV EF can be used to evaluate paediatric PH patients clinically. 2D TAPSE was not a good clinical predictor of adverse events in our patients. This may be because TAPSE is a measure of basal part of the heart with displacement in 1D and does not account for the entire RV volume that contributes to the RV EF.25 TAPSE does not account for the mid and apical RV function of the lateral free wall that is more significantly affected than RV basal segment.15 Okumura et al.15 has demonstrated that the mid and apical RV strain segments in PH patients are more affected than the basal RV function. TAPSE is not reflective of global RV function and is influenced by the passive translational or tethering forces.26 TAPSE is not sensitive in detecting RV dysfunction in adult PH patients compared with 3D RV EF and FAC.11,21,27 Lastly, TAPSE seemed to be preserved in paediatric PH except in children with repaired congenital heart disease.28 2D FAC is a predictor of adverse events in our patients. This is consistent with adult PH studies where FAC has been shown to be an outcome predictor.22,29,30 In addition to decreased 3D RV EF as an outcome predictor, free wall RVLS is a predictor of adverse clinical event in our paediatric PH patients. RV strain is a more sensitive indicator of function and a direct measure of myocardial performance.1,15–17,31–34 Although there were no statistically significant differences in RV strain between our IPAH and APAH-CHD patients, there were significant differences of RV strain from the entire PH cohort when compared with normal controls. APAH-CHD patients likely have decreased RV function from their CHD surgeries despite having better haemodynamics than IPAH patients. Our study showed that free wall RVLS was a strong predictor of adverse clinical events. Adult PH studies showed that RV free wall strain was the best predictor of cardiovascular events and a powerful predictor of clinical outcomes.1,33 Paediatric studies have demonstrated that free wall RV strain can be used as a prediction of worsening WHO-FC and global RV longitudinal strain was reduced in children with IPAH and that it worsened over time in patients who required transplant or died.15,34 Septal RVLS was not a predictor of adverse clinical event in our study. The ventricular septum is shared between the two ventricles and reflects both RV and left ventricle contractility, thus making the septal RVLS values difficult to interpret. Free wall RVLS however is a predictor of adverse clinical events because the free wall RV is not shared with the left ventricle and is the predominant ventricular component contributing to RV contractile function. 4D RV function 2 software generates functional parameters from single 3DE dataset making this an easier use in clinical practice and reducing the amount of time spent using multiple software to analyse 3D dataset and speckle-tracking echocardiography separately. Real-time 3DE can be incorporated into routine clinical use as it provides quantitative assessment of RV without the time and cost associated with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or the invasiveness of the right heart catheterization. Importantly, we have demonstrated that functional measurements derived from one 3D dataset can be used to predict adverse clinical events. Limitations This study has the following limitations. First, we used single beat 3DE because it does not require breath hold in paediatric patients. This single beat 3DE is limited technically because of the big size of the probe that does not fit in between the intercostal spaces of small children. Despite this limitation, single beat 3DE acquisition generated from the Siemens machine has a higher volume rate than other vendor machines and is advantageous over traditional disk summation that require serial heartbeat acquisitions resulting in stitch artifacts. The development of a paediatric 3D transthoracic probe for single beat acquisition could help resolve the technical limitations. Because this is a vendor neutral package that can derive RV functional indices from real-time 3D datasets, the acquisition of 3D dataset is not limited to a specific vendor. Second, limitations to this study include those inherent to a retrospective study. We included patients with two specific aetiologies of PH so that we have two consistent groups of patients who have PAH. We were unable to perform an outcome sub-analysis in APAH-CHD patients due to low adverse events. Lastly, there are no established normal paediatric values for RV EF, FAC, and RV strain. Future studies to establish these values in normal paediatric populations may be helpful as paediatric reference values in echocardiography can be different from adult values. Conclusions Paediatric PH patients have impaired RV function compared with normal children. 3D RV EF, volumes, FAC, and free wall RV strain serve as outcome predictors for paediatric PH patients. Future studies to evaluate changes in these functional parameters as treatment goals with treatment induced improvements would help in future management of these paediatric PH patients. Supplementary data Supplementary data are available at European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging online. Acknowledgements We would like to thank Berthold Klas for his help with the 4D-RV Function 2 software. Conflict of interest: None declared. Funding This study was supported by the Jayden DeLuca Foundation; the Leah Bult Foundation; and the Frederick and Margaret L Weyerhaeuser Foundation. References 1 Fine NM , Chen L , Bastiansen PM , Frantz RP , Pellikka PA , Oh JK et al. Outcome prediction by quantitative right ventricular function assessment in 575 subjects evaluated for pulmonary hypertension . Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2013 ; 6 : 711 – 21 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 2 Ghio S , Gavazzi A , Campana C , Inserra C , Klersy C , Sebastiani R et al. Independent and additive prognostic value of right ventricular systolic function and pulmonary artery pressure in patients with chronic heart failure . J Am Coll Cardiol 2001 ; 37 : 183 – 8 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 3 Ivy DD , Abman SH , Barst RJ , Berger RM , Bonnet D , Fleming TR et al. Pediatric pulmonary hypertension . J Am Coll Cardiol 2013 ; 62 : D117 – 26 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 4 Haddad F , Hunt SA , Rosenthal DN , Murphy DJ. Right ventricular function in cardiovascular disease, part I: anatomy, physiology, aging, and functional assessment of the right ventricle . Circulation 2008 ; 117 : 1436 – 48 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 5 Gopal AS , Chukwu EO , Iwuchukwu CJ , Katz AS , Toole RS , Schapiro W et al. Normal values of right ventricular size and function by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2007 ; 20 : 445 – 55 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 6 Grewal J , Majdalany D , Syed I , Pellikka P , Warnes CA. Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular volume and function in adult patients with congenital heart disease: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2010 ; 23 : 127 – 33 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 7 Maffessanti F , Muraru D , Esposito R , Gripari P , Ermacora D , Santoro C et al. Age-, body size-, and sex-specific reference values for right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by three-dimensional echocardiography: a multicenter echocardiographic study in 507 healthy volunteers . Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2013 ; 6 : 700 – 10 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 8 Khoo NS , Young A , Occleshaw C , Cowan B , Zeng IS , Gentles TL. Assessments of right ventricular volume and function using three-dimensional echocardiography in older children and adults with congenital heart disease: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2009 ; 22 : 1279 – 88 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 9 Lu X , Nadvoretskiy V , Bu L , Stolpen A , Ayres N , Pignatelli RH et al. Accuracy and reproducibility of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography for assessment of right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction in children . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008 ; 21 : 84 – 9 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 10 Rudski LG , Lai WW , Afilalo J , Hua L , Handschumacher MD , Chandrasekaran K et al. Guidelines for the echocardiographic assessment of the right heart in adults: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography endorsed by the European Association of Echocardiography, a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology, and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2010 ; 23 : 685 – 713; quiz 86–8. Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 11 Knight DS , Grasso AE , Quail MA , Muthurangu V , Taylor AM , Toumpanakis C et al. Accuracy and reproducibility of right ventricular quantification in patients with pressure and volume overload using single-beat three-dimensional echocardiography . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2015 ; 28 : 363 – 74 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 12 Tamborini G , Brusoni D , Torres Molina JE , Galli CA , Maltagliati A , Muratori M et al. Feasibility of a new generation three-dimensional echocardiography for right ventricular volumetric and functional measurements . Am J Cardiol 2008 ; 102 : 499 – 505 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 13 Zhang QB , Sun JP , Gao RF , Lee AP , Feng YL , Liu XR et al. Feasibility of single-beat full-volume capture real-time three-dimensional echocardiography for quantification of right ventricular volume: validation by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging . Int J Cardiol 2013 ; 168 : 3991 – 5 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 14 Jone PN , Patel SS , Cassidy C , Ivy DD. Three-dimensional echocardiography of right ventricular function correlates with severity of pediatric pulmonary hypertension . Congenit Heart Dis 2016 ; 11 : 562 – 9 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 15 Okumura K , Humpl T , Dragulescu A , Mertens L , Friedberg MK. Longitudinal assessment of right ventricular myocardial strain in relation to transplant-free survival in children with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2014 ; 27 : 1344 – 51 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 16 Hardegree EL , Sachdev A , Villarraga HR , Frantz RP , McGoon MD , Kushwaha SS et al. Role of serial quantitative assessment of right ventricular function by strain in pulmonary arterial hypertension . Am J Cardiol 2013 ; 111 : 143 – 8 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 17 Sachdev A , Villarraga HR , Frantz RP , McGoon MD , Hsiao JF , Maalouf JF et al. Right ventricular strain for prediction of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension . Chest 2011 ; 139 : 1299 – 309 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 18 Haeck ML , Scherptong RW , Marsan NA , Holman ER , Schalij MJ , Bax JJ et al. Prognostic value of right ventricular longitudinal peak systolic strain in patients with pulmonary hypertension . Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2012 ; 5 : 628 – 36 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 19 Muraru D , Spadotto V , Cecchetto A , Romeo G , Aruta P , Ermacora D et al. New speckle-tracking algorithm for right ventricular volume analysis from three-dimensional echocardiographic data sets: validation with cardiac magnetic resonance and comparison with the previous analysis tool . Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2016 ; 17 : 1279 – 89 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 20 Galie N , Barbera JA , Frost AE , Ghofrani HA , Hoeper MM , McLaughlin VV et al. Initial use of ambrisentan plus tadalafil in pulmonary arterial hypertension . N Engl J Med 2015 ; 373 : 834 – 44 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 21 Vitarelli A , Mangieri E , Terzano C , Gaudio C , Salsano F , Rosato E et al. Three-dimensional echocardiography and 2D-3D speckle-tracking imaging in chronic pulmonary hypertension: diagnostic accuracy in detecting hemodynamic signs of right ventricular (RV) failure . J Am Heart Assoc 2015 ; 4 : e001584. Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 22 Vitarelli A , Barilla F , Capotosto L , D'angeli I , Truscelli G , De Maio M et al. Right ventricular function in acute pulmonary embolism: a combined assessment by three-dimensional and speckle-tracking echocardiography . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2014 ; 27 : 329 – 38 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 23 Murata M , Tsugu T , Kawakami T , Kataoka M , Minakata Y , Endo J et al. Prognostic value of three-dimensional echocardiographic right ventricular ejection fraction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension . Oncotarget 2016 ; 7 : 86781 – 90 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 24 Ryo K , Goda A , Onishi T , Delgado-Montero A , Tayal B , Champion HC et al. Characterization of right ventricular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension associated with patient outcomes by 3-dimensional wall motion tracking echocardiography . Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2015 ; 8 : e003176 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 25 Kind T , Mauritz GJ , Marcus JT , van de Veerdonk M , Westerhof N , Vonk-Noordegraaf A. Right ventricular ejection fraction is better reflected by transverse rather than longitudinal wall motion in pulmonary hypertension . J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2010 ; 12 : 35. Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 26 Anavekar NS , Gerson D , Skali H , Kwong RY , Yucel EK , Solomon SD. Two-dimensional assessment of right ventricular function: an echocardiographic-MRI correlative study . Echocardiography 2007 ; 24 : 452 – 6 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 27 Leary PJ , Kurtz CE , Hough CL , Waiss MP , Ralph DD , Sheehan FH. Three-dimensional analysis of right ventricular shape and function in pulmonary hypertension . Pulm Circ 2012 ; 2 : 34 – 40 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 28 Hauck A , Guo R , Ivy DD , Younoszai A. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion is preserved in young patients with pulmonary hypertension except when associated with repaired congenital heart disease . Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2016 ; 18 : 459 – 466 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS 29 Haddad F , Spruijt OA , Denault AY , Mercier O , Brunner N , Furman D et al. Right heart score for predicting outcome in idiopathic, familial, or drug- and toxin-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension . JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2015 ; 8 : 627 – 38 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 30 Di Bello V , Conte L , Delle Donne MG , Giannini C , Barletta V , Fabiani I et al. Advantages of real time three-dimensional echocardiography in the assessment of right ventricular volumes and function in patients with pulmonary hypertension compared with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography . Echocardiography 2013 ; 30 : 820 – 8 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 31 Rajagopal S , Forsha DE , Risum N , Hornik CP , Poms AD , Fortin TA et al. Comprehensive assessment of right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary hypertension with global longitudinal peak systolic strain derived from multiple right ventricular views . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2014 ; 27 : 657 – 65.e3 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 32 Leitman M , Lysyansky P , Sidenko S , Shir V , Peleg E , Binenbaum M et al. Two-dimensional strain-a novel software for real-time quantitative echocardiographic assessment of myocardial function . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2004 ; 17 : 1021 – 9 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 33 Motoji Y , Tanaka H , Fukuda Y , Ryo K , Emoto N , Kawai H et al. Efficacy of right ventricular free-wall longitudinal speckle-tracking strain for predicting long-term outcome in patients with pulmonary hypertension . Circ J 2013 ; 77 : 756 – 63 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 34 Muntean I , Benedek T , Melinte M , Suteu C , Toganel R. Deformation pattern and predictive value of right ventricular longitudinal strain in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension . Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2015 ; 14 : 27 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/about_us/legal/notices) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging Oxford University Press http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/3d-echocardiographic-evaluation-of-right-ventricular-function-and-Zqqqr3pCQA

Loading next page...

Publisher: Oxford University Press
Copyright: Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
ISSN: 2047-2404
DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jex205
Publisher site: See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Aims To evaluate right ventricular functional indices using 3D echocardiography (3DE) between normal children and paediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients, and to evaluate these indices as outcome predictors in children with PH. Methods and results Ninety-six paediatric PH patients from 2014 to 2016 were compared with 40 normal controls. All patients underwent 3DE and off-line analysis generated 3D end-diastolic volume, 3D end-systolic volume, 3D stroke volume, 3D right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF), RV longitudinal strain (LS) free wall and septum, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and fractional area change (FAC). PH patients had higher RV volumes, lower RV EF, lower free wall and septal RVLS, lower TAPSE, and lower FAC compared with normal controls (all P < 0.001). 3D RV EF, free wall RVLS, and FAC are predictors of adverse clinical outcomes [hazard ratio (confidence interval) 0.1 (0.03–0.27], P < 0.001; 0.17 (0.07–0.45), P < 0.001; 0.08 (0.03–0.22); P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Paediatric PH patients have impaired RV function compared with normal children. 3D RV EF, volumes, FAC, and free wall RV strain serve as outcome predictors for paediatric PH patients. 3D echocardiography, right ventricular function, paediatric pulmonary hypertension, myocardial strain, clinical outcomes Introduction Paediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease that results in right ventricular (RV) dysfunction; RV function is an important determinant of clinical status and survival in patients with PH.1–4 Because of the complex RV geometry, 2D echocardiography (2DE) cannot capture the inflow and outflow portions of the RV in the same image acquisition and cannot determine comprehensive function in one beat. Real time 3D echocardiography (3DE) has emerged as a feasible tool to quantitate RV function as it captures the complex geometric shape and has been validated with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.5–10 Single beat 3DE of the RV is accurate and reproducible in quantifying the RV.11–13 We previously demonstrated that this technique is feasible in paediatric PH patients and 3D RV EF correlated with invasive haemodynamics and severity of PH using biomarkers,14 but these parameters have not been used to evaluate prognosis. In addition to using 3D RV EF to quantify RV function, RV strain has been used in evaluating myocardial function and has predictive potential in both adult and paediatric PH population.1,15–18 Although quantitative assessment of RV function using 3DE and strain are feasible, it frequently requires different vendors’ software packages with transfer of images from different echocardiography machines to different offline packages that limit rapid clinical practice. Recently a vendor independent 3DE software (4D-RV Function 2) can generate RV size and functional parameters from one real-time 3DE dataset and enables an accurate, reproducible, and faster quantitation of RV function that requires less operator time.19 In this study, we evaluated RV functional indices generated from 3DE datasets between normal controls and paediatric PH patients, and evaluated these indices as outcome predictors in children with PH. Methods Study population This is a retrospective evaluation of paediatric PH patients from 2014 to 2016. PH patients were included if they had a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and associated pulmonary arterial hypertension with congenital heart disease (APAH-CHD) by cardiac catheterization with a mean pulmonary artery pressure >25 mmHg and were seen in PH clinic. World Health Organization Functional Classifications (WHO-FC) were identified in each patient at PH clinic visits. Patients were included if they had 2DE and 3DE on the same day. Patients were excluded if they were >18 years of age and if the echocardiographic images were poor for adequate tracing of the endocardial borders or if the entire RV could not be included in the apical four chamber view. Normal paediatric patients served as controls who had no cardiac defects or family history of cardiac disease or they were patients who were evaluated in the cardiology clinic for heart murmurs, chest pain, or syncope with normal structure hearts. This study was approved by the institutional review board at the University of Colorado. 2D and 3D echocardiography 2DE was performed on all children with PH and were digitally acquired using a standard protocol with appropriate sized transducers for patient size. Single beat full volume of 3DE RV datasets was acquired using the 4Z1c matrix-array transducer on the Siemens SC2000 cardiac ultrasound system (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany). An apical four chamber view was acquired with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. The transducer position was modified for optimal simultaneous visualization of the tricuspid valve, cardiac apex, and right ventricular outflow tract. 3DE RV datasets were digitally analysed offline using the commercial software (4D RV-Function 2.0, TomTec, Germany) to generate RV functional indices automatically: 3D end-diastolic volume (EDV), 3D end-systolic volume (ESV), 3D stroke volume (SV), 3D EF, 2D septal and free wall RV longitudinal strain (LS), 2D tricuspid annular pane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and 2D fractional area change (FAC), calculated as calculated as [(end-diastolic area) − (end-systolic area)/end-diastolic area] × 100% (Figure 1). End-diastole is defined as the time just before the tricuspid valve closure with the greatest RV volume and end-systole is when the RV cavity is the smallest. TAPSE is measured from the apex of the RV to the tricuspid valve annulus in systole and diastole. FAC is also measured in systole and diastole with adjustable tracking lines. Intraobserver variability was performed on 10 randomly selected PH patients at an interval of 4 weeks apart by P.N.J. Interobserver variability was also performed by two investigators (P.N.J. and C.B.) at an interval of 4 weeks apart. Figure 1 View largeDownload slide 4D right ventricular function 2 software automatically generate 3D volumes, ejection fraction, right ventricular strain, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and fractional area change. Figure 1 View largeDownload slide 4D right ventricular function 2 software automatically generate 3D volumes, ejection fraction, right ventricular strain, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and fractional area change. Clinical outcomes Clinical outcomes were analysed in all PH patients with pre-defined adverse clinical events. An adverse clinical event was defined as (i) initiation of intravenous prostacyclin, (ii) PAH-related hospitalization with increased RV failure or haemoptysis, (iii) creation of an atrial septostomy, (iv) Pott’s shunt, (v) lung transplant, or (vi) death. These adverse clinical outcomes were composite end points similar to previous medication trials in PAH.20 All patients were followed up until the clinical event or the end of the study period. Statistical analysis Analyses were performed using JMP 13.0 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Variables were checked for normality using normal plots, in addition to Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilks tests. All normally distributed data sets are reported as mean with standard deviations. Non-normally distributed values are reported as median values with interquartile ranges. Demographic and clinical characteristics among PH and control patients were compared using a student’s t-test for normally distributed continuous variables, Wilcoxon ranked sum test for non-normally distributed variables, and χ2 for categorical variables. Additional group comparisons were performed using Kruskal–Wallis or one-way analysis of variance tests between the PAH specific WHO-FC groups and PAH clinical diagnosis groups. Observer agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis. Univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis assessed the predictive ability of 3DE variables in all PH patients. For variables that were found to be significantly associated with survival univariate analysis, Kaplan–Meier survival curves were constructed with specific log-rank test with the predictor dichotomized to describe event-free survival where the most optimal cut-off values were identified by performing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for detection of adverse clinical events, specifically by finding Youden index to achieve maximum sensitivity and specificity. All patients were followed up to the particular event or the end of the study (December 2016). As sensitivity analysis, the above models were applied to IPAH patients only to examine their robustness. A multivariate analysis using step-up model and score method was applied. Significance was based on an α-level of 0.05. Results PH patients and controls There were 104 paediatric PH patients with IPAH and APAH-CHD from 2014 to 2016 with 8 (7%) PH patients excluded due to poor image quality, thus leaving 96 PH patients for analysis. Forty normal paediatric patients served as controls. Table 1 shows the clinical characteristics of PH patients and controls. There were 35% IPAH and 65% APAH-CHD patients. PH patients had higher volumes, lower EF, and lower free wall and septal RVLS, TAPSE, and FAC compared with normal controls (Table 1). IPAH patients had higher volumes and lower EF compared with APAH-CHD patients (all P < 0.01) as demonstrated in Table 2. IPAH group had worse PH with higher mean pulmonary artery pressure and higher pulmonary vascular resistance compared with APAH-CHD group. The myocardial strain between IPAH and APAH patients was not statistically different but the IPAH patients tended to have lower RV strain compared with APAH patient. Patients with different WHO-FC groups were different in their 3D functional indices (see Supplementary data online, Table S1). Patients with WHO-FC III and IV had higher RV volumes compared with WHO-FC I (all P < 0.01) and lower 3D RV EF compared with WHO-FC I or II (P < 0.001). Free wall RVLS was also worse in WHO-FC III and IV compared with WHO-FC II and I (P < 0.001). Table 1 Patient clinical characteristics PH (n = 96) Control (n = 40) P-value Age (years) 8.1 ± 5.2 9.4 ± 4.0 0.1339 Sex (female) 53 (55%) 20 (50%) 0.6261 BSA (m2) 1.04 ± 0.42 1.18 ± 0.46 0.0210 WHO-FC I 47 (49%) II 34 (29%) III 12 (12%) IV 3 (2%) IPAH 34 (35%) APAH-CHD 62 (65%) ASD s/p repair 15 (16%) VSD s/p repair 14 (15%) AVSD s/p repair 10 (10%) PDA s/p repair 8 (8%) CoA s/p repair 2 (2%) Absent RPA or LPA s/p repair 5 (5%) TGA s/p repair 1 (1%) PAPVR s/p repair 2 (2%) PVS s/p repair 2 (2%) Tricuspid valve dysplasia s/p repair 1 (1%) TAPVR s/p repair 2 (%) Medications PDE5i 65 (67%) IV Treprostinil 10 (10%) SC Treprostinil 4 (3%) Inhaled Treprostinil 6 (5%) IV Epoprostenol 2 (2%) ERA 43 (45%) CCB 13 (14%) RV functional indices EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 60 (45–66) 0.0002 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 25 (21–31) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 31 ± 8 0.0036 EF (%) 46 ± 5 55 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −20 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −28 ± 4 <0.0001 TAPSE (mm) 14 ± 4 17 ± 3 0.0043 FAC (%) 37 ± 7 44 ± 5 0.0001 PH (n = 96) Control (n = 40) P-value Age (years) 8.1 ± 5.2 9.4 ± 4.0 0.1339 Sex (female) 53 (55%) 20 (50%) 0.6261 BSA (m2) 1.04 ± 0.42 1.18 ± 0.46 0.0210 WHO-FC I 47 (49%) II 34 (29%) III 12 (12%) IV 3 (2%) IPAH 34 (35%) APAH-CHD 62 (65%) ASD s/p repair 15 (16%) VSD s/p repair 14 (15%) AVSD s/p repair 10 (10%) PDA s/p repair 8 (8%) CoA s/p repair 2 (2%) Absent RPA or LPA s/p repair 5 (5%) TGA s/p repair 1 (1%) PAPVR s/p repair 2 (2%) PVS s/p repair 2 (2%) Tricuspid valve dysplasia s/p repair 1 (1%) TAPVR s/p repair 2 (%) Medications PDE5i 65 (67%) IV Treprostinil 10 (10%) SC Treprostinil 4 (3%) Inhaled Treprostinil 6 (5%) IV Epoprostenol 2 (2%) ERA 43 (45%) CCB 13 (14%) RV functional indices EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 60 (45–66) 0.0002 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 25 (21–31) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 31 ± 8 0.0036 EF (%) 46 ± 5 55 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −20 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −28 ± 4 <0.0001 TAPSE (mm) 14 ± 4 17 ± 3 0.0043 FAC (%) 37 ± 7 44 ± 5 0.0001 Data are represented as mean ± SD. ASD, atrial septal defect; AVSD, atrioventricular septal defect; CCB, calcium channel blockers; CHD, congenital heart disease; CoA, coarctation of the aorta; EDVi, end-diastolic volume indexed; EF, ejection fraction; ERA, endothelin receptor antagonist; ESVi, end-systolic volume indexed; IPAH, idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; LPA, left pulmonary artery; PAPVR, partially anomalous pulmonary venous return; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; PDEi, phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibitors; PVS, pulmonary venous stenosis; RPA, right pulmonary artery; RVLS, right ventricular longitudinal strain; SVi, stroke volume indexed; TGA, transposition of great arteries; VSD, ventricular septal defect; WHO-FC, World Health Organization—Functional Class; SD, standard deviation. Table 1 Patient clinical characteristics PH (n = 96) Control (n = 40) P-value Age (years) 8.1 ± 5.2 9.4 ± 4.0 0.1339 Sex (female) 53 (55%) 20 (50%) 0.6261 BSA (m2) 1.04 ± 0.42 1.18 ± 0.46 0.0210 WHO-FC I 47 (49%) II 34 (29%) III 12 (12%) IV 3 (2%) IPAH 34 (35%) APAH-CHD 62 (65%) ASD s/p repair 15 (16%) VSD s/p repair 14 (15%) AVSD s/p repair 10 (10%) PDA s/p repair 8 (8%) CoA s/p repair 2 (2%) Absent RPA or LPA s/p repair 5 (5%) TGA s/p repair 1 (1%) PAPVR s/p repair 2 (2%) PVS s/p repair 2 (2%) Tricuspid valve dysplasia s/p repair 1 (1%) TAPVR s/p repair 2 (%) Medications PDE5i 65 (67%) IV Treprostinil 10 (10%) SC Treprostinil 4 (3%) Inhaled Treprostinil 6 (5%) IV Epoprostenol 2 (2%) ERA 43 (45%) CCB 13 (14%) RV functional indices EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 60 (45–66) 0.0002 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 25 (21–31) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 31 ± 8 0.0036 EF (%) 46 ± 5 55 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −20 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −28 ± 4 <0.0001 TAPSE (mm) 14 ± 4 17 ± 3 0.0043 FAC (%) 37 ± 7 44 ± 5 0.0001 PH (n = 96) Control (n = 40) P-value Age (years) 8.1 ± 5.2 9.4 ± 4.0 0.1339 Sex (female) 53 (55%) 20 (50%) 0.6261 BSA (m2) 1.04 ± 0.42 1.18 ± 0.46 0.0210 WHO-FC I 47 (49%) II 34 (29%) III 12 (12%) IV 3 (2%) IPAH 34 (35%) APAH-CHD 62 (65%) ASD s/p repair 15 (16%) VSD s/p repair 14 (15%) AVSD s/p repair 10 (10%) PDA s/p repair 8 (8%) CoA s/p repair 2 (2%) Absent RPA or LPA s/p repair 5 (5%) TGA s/p repair 1 (1%) PAPVR s/p repair 2 (2%) PVS s/p repair 2 (2%) Tricuspid valve dysplasia s/p repair 1 (1%) TAPVR s/p repair 2 (%) Medications PDE5i 65 (67%) IV Treprostinil 10 (10%) SC Treprostinil 4 (3%) Inhaled Treprostinil 6 (5%) IV Epoprostenol 2 (2%) ERA 43 (45%) CCB 13 (14%) RV functional indices EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 60 (45–66) 0.0002 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 25 (21–31) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 31 ± 8 0.0036 EF (%) 46 ± 5 55 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −20 ± 4 <0.0001 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −28 ± 4 <0.0001 TAPSE (mm) 14 ± 4 17 ± 3 0.0043 FAC (%) 37 ± 7 44 ± 5 0.0001 Data are represented as mean ± SD. ASD, atrial septal defect; AVSD, atrioventricular septal defect; CCB, calcium channel blockers; CHD, congenital heart disease; CoA, coarctation of the aorta; EDVi, end-diastolic volume indexed; EF, ejection fraction; ERA, endothelin receptor antagonist; ESVi, end-systolic volume indexed; IPAH, idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; LPA, left pulmonary artery; PAPVR, partially anomalous pulmonary venous return; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; PDEi, phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibitors; PVS, pulmonary venous stenosis; RPA, right pulmonary artery; RVLS, right ventricular longitudinal strain; SVi, stroke volume indexed; TGA, transposition of great arteries; VSD, ventricular septal defect; WHO-FC, World Health Organization—Functional Class; SD, standard deviation. Table 2 Right ventricular functional indices between IPAH and APAH-CHD IPAH (n = 34) APAH-CHD (n = 62) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 101 (66–131) 61 (42–99) <0.0001 ESVi (mL/m2) 42 (33–70) 39 (32–47) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 39 ± 12 36 ± 12 0.2629 EF (%) 43 ± 4 46 ± 5 0.0123 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 0.3450 RVLS free wall (%) −20 ± 4 −22 ± 4 0.1137 mPAP (mmHg) 42 ± 19 25 ± 11 <0.0001 PVRi (WU.m2) 11 ± 7 5 ± 3 <0.0001 PAWP (mmHg) 8 ± 2 9 ± 3 0.0563 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 0.4757 CI (L/min/m2) 3.5 ± 0.8 4.6 ± 2.8 0.0161 IPAH (n = 34) APAH-CHD (n = 62) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 101 (66–131) 61 (42–99) <0.0001 ESVi (mL/m2) 42 (33–70) 39 (32–47) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 39 ± 12 36 ± 12 0.2629 EF (%) 43 ± 4 46 ± 5 0.0123 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 0.3450 RVLS free wall (%) −20 ± 4 −22 ± 4 0.1137 mPAP (mmHg) 42 ± 19 25 ± 11 <0.0001 PVRi (WU.m2) 11 ± 7 5 ± 3 <0.0001 PAWP (mmHg) 8 ± 2 9 ± 3 0.0563 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 0.4757 CI (L/min/m2) 3.5 ± 0.8 4.6 ± 2.8 0.0161 Data are represented as mean ± SD or medians with interquantile ranges. CI, cardiac index; mPAP, mean pulmonary arterial pressure; mRAP, mean right atrial pressure; PAWP, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure; PVRi, pulmonary vascular resistance index; SD, standard deviation; EDVi, end-diastolic volume indexed; ESVi, end-systolic volume indexed; EF, ejection fraction. Table 2 Right ventricular functional indices between IPAH and APAH-CHD IPAH (n = 34) APAH-CHD (n = 62) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 101 (66–131) 61 (42–99) <0.0001 ESVi (mL/m2) 42 (33–70) 39 (32–47) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 39 ± 12 36 ± 12 0.2629 EF (%) 43 ± 4 46 ± 5 0.0123 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 0.3450 RVLS free wall (%) −20 ± 4 −22 ± 4 0.1137 mPAP (mmHg) 42 ± 19 25 ± 11 <0.0001 PVRi (WU.m2) 11 ± 7 5 ± 3 <0.0001 PAWP (mmHg) 8 ± 2 9 ± 3 0.0563 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 0.4757 CI (L/min/m2) 3.5 ± 0.8 4.6 ± 2.8 0.0161 IPAH (n = 34) APAH-CHD (n = 62) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 101 (66–131) 61 (42–99) <0.0001 ESVi (mL/m2) 42 (33–70) 39 (32–47) <0.0001 SVi (mL/m2) 39 ± 12 36 ± 12 0.2629 EF (%) 43 ± 4 46 ± 5 0.0123 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 0.3450 RVLS free wall (%) −20 ± 4 −22 ± 4 0.1137 mPAP (mmHg) 42 ± 19 25 ± 11 <0.0001 PVRi (WU.m2) 11 ± 7 5 ± 3 <0.0001 PAWP (mmHg) 8 ± 2 9 ± 3 0.0563 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 0.4757 CI (L/min/m2) 3.5 ± 0.8 4.6 ± 2.8 0.0161 Data are represented as mean ± SD or medians with interquantile ranges. CI, cardiac index; mPAP, mean pulmonary arterial pressure; mRAP, mean right atrial pressure; PAWP, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure; PVRi, pulmonary vascular resistance index; SD, standard deviation; EDVi, end-diastolic volume indexed; ESVi, end-systolic volume indexed; EF, ejection fraction. Clinical outcome analysis Over a follow-up of 24 months, there were 18 adverse clinical events. Two patients died, three underwent Pott’s shunt, one underwent clinically indicated septostomy, seven were started on IV prostacyclin therapy, and five had PAH related hospitalization. RV functional indices and haemodynamics of the 96 patients with and without adverse clinical events are shown in Table 3. There are significant differences between RV EDVi, RV EF, and free wall RVLS between the patients with and without clinical adverse events. The mean pulmonary artery pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance indices were higher in patients with adverse clinical events and the cardiac index was lower in patient with adverse clinical events. The RV functional indices that predicted hard clinical outcomes were 3D volumes, 3D RV EF, free wall RVLS, and 2D FAC in Figure 2 [reported as hazard ratio (95% CI)]. ROC curves for all RV functional indices are demonstrated in Figure 3. Kaplan–Meyer survival curves for observed predictors are shown in Figure 4 and confidence intervals in Supplementary data online, Figure S1. An EDVi ≥ 102 mL/m2, ESVi ≥ 54 mL/m2, SVi ≤ 37 mL/m2, 3D EF ≤ 43%, free wall RVLS ≤ −16, and FAC ≤ 32% were significantly associated with increased risk of adverse clinical events. Table 3 3D right ventricular indices and haemodynamics in pulmonary hypertension patients with and without adverse clinical events Adverse clinical events All patients (n = 96) Event free (n = 78) With event (n = 18) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 75 (45–105) 101 (69–153) 0.0312 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 40 (33–53) 44 (33–72) 0.0817 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 36 ± 12 42 ± 16 0.1542 EF (%) 46 ± 5 47 ± 4 39 ± 7 0.0002 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 −13 ± 5 0.0553 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −21 ± 4 −18 ± 5 0.0135 mPAP (mmHg) 32 ± 17 27 ± 13 48 ± 18 0.0002 PVRi (WU.m2) 7 ± 6 6 ± 4 12 ± 8 0.0075 PAWP (mmHg) 9 ± 3 8 ± 2 9 ± 5 0.6769 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 7 ± 3 0.5621 CI (L/min/m2) 4.1 ± 1.9 4.3 ± 2.1 3.3 ± 0.7 0.0075 Adverse clinical events All patients (n = 96) Event free (n = 78) With event (n = 18) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 75 (45–105) 101 (69–153) 0.0312 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 40 (33–53) 44 (33–72) 0.0817 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 36 ± 12 42 ± 16 0.1542 EF (%) 46 ± 5 47 ± 4 39 ± 7 0.0002 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 −13 ± 5 0.0553 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −21 ± 4 −18 ± 5 0.0135 mPAP (mmHg) 32 ± 17 27 ± 13 48 ± 18 0.0002 PVRi (WU.m2) 7 ± 6 6 ± 4 12 ± 8 0.0075 PAWP (mmHg) 9 ± 3 8 ± 2 9 ± 5 0.6769 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 7 ± 3 0.5621 CI (L/min/m2) 4.1 ± 1.9 4.3 ± 2.1 3.3 ± 0.7 0.0075 Data are represented as mean ± SD or medians with interquantile ranges. Please see abbreviations from Tables 1 and 2. Table 3 3D right ventricular indices and haemodynamics in pulmonary hypertension patients with and without adverse clinical events Adverse clinical events All patients (n = 96) Event free (n = 78) With event (n = 18) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 75 (45–105) 101 (69–153) 0.0312 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 40 (33–53) 44 (33–72) 0.0817 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 36 ± 12 42 ± 16 0.1542 EF (%) 46 ± 5 47 ± 4 39 ± 7 0.0002 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 −13 ± 5 0.0553 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −21 ± 4 −18 ± 5 0.0135 mPAP (mmHg) 32 ± 17 27 ± 13 48 ± 18 0.0002 PVRi (WU.m2) 7 ± 6 6 ± 4 12 ± 8 0.0075 PAWP (mmHg) 9 ± 3 8 ± 2 9 ± 5 0.6769 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 7 ± 3 0.5621 CI (L/min/m2) 4.1 ± 1.9 4.3 ± 2.1 3.3 ± 0.7 0.0075 Adverse clinical events All patients (n = 96) Event free (n = 78) With event (n = 18) P-value EDVi (mL/m2) 83 (49–111) 75 (45–105) 101 (69–153) 0.0312 ESVi (mL/m2) 41 (33–56) 40 (33–53) 44 (33–72) 0.0817 SVi (mL/m2) 37 ± 13 36 ± 12 42 ± 16 0.1542 EF (%) 46 ± 5 47 ± 4 39 ± 7 0.0002 RVLS septum (%) −15 ± 6 −16 ± 6 −13 ± 5 0.0553 RVLS free wall (%) −21 ± 5 −21 ± 4 −18 ± 5 0.0135 mPAP (mmHg) 32 ± 17 27 ± 13 48 ± 18 0.0002 PVRi (WU.m2) 7 ± 6 6 ± 4 12 ± 8 0.0075 PAWP (mmHg) 9 ± 3 8 ± 2 9 ± 5 0.6769 mRAP (mmHg) 7 ± 2 7 ± 2 7 ± 3 0.5621 CI (L/min/m2) 4.1 ± 1.9 4.3 ± 2.1 3.3 ± 0.7 0.0075 Data are represented as mean ± SD or medians with interquantile ranges. Please see abbreviations from Tables 1 and 2. Figure 2 View largeDownload slide Univariate Cox proportional analysis of right ventricular indices in PH patients. Data are reported as hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals per one standard deviation increase per given parameter. Figure 2 View largeDownload slide Univariate Cox proportional analysis of right ventricular indices in PH patients. Data are reported as hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals per one standard deviation increase per given parameter. Figure 3 View largeDownload slide Receiver operating characteristics of 3D right ventricular functional indices. Figure 3 View largeDownload slide Receiver operating characteristics of 3D right ventricular functional indices. Figure 4 View largeDownload slide Kaplan–Meyer curves for adverse clinical events. Figure 4 View largeDownload slide Kaplan–Meyer curves for adverse clinical events. Of the 18 adverse clinical events, 15 events occurred in IPAH patients and 3 events occurred in APAH-CHD patients. Our sub-analysis of outcomes in IPAH patients demonstrated the same RV functional indices (3D volumes, 3D RV EF, free wall RVLS, and 2D FAC) that predicted hard outcomes when combining the two groups (see Supplementary data online, Table S2). A multivariate analysis in IPAH patients revealed that the ESVi was an independent predictor of clinical events. SVi and EF were the two predictors with the highest Fisher’s score. Due to limited number of adverse clinical events (n = 3) in 62 APAH-CHD patients, we were unable to perform multivariate analysis in this group. Intraobserver and interobserver variability The ICC showed good agreements on RV EDV, ESV, SV, EF, RV septal and free wall strain, TAPSE, and FAC (0.96, 0.99, 0.75, 0.97, 0.83, 0.84, 0.78, and 0.96, respectively) for intraobserver variability comparisons in RV functional indices. The ICC showed good agreement for RV EDV, ESV, SV, EF, and RVLS free wall (0.80, 0.83, 0.78, 0.93, and 0.82, respectively) and showed moderate agreement in RVLS septal, TAPSE, and FAC (0.63, 0.66, and 0.64, respectively) for interobserver comparisons in RV functional indices. Discussion This study demonstrated the prognostic significance of 3D RV functional indices in paediatric PH patients. Paediatric PH patients have impaired RV function compared with normal children. We found that 3D volumes, 3D RV EF, FAC, and free wall RVLS were significant outcome predictors for paediatric PH patients. Previously, we demonstrated that 3D RV EF correlated well with invasive haemodynamics and biomarkers of severity in paediatric PH population.14 3DE minimizes geometric assumptions of RV and is more accurate in evaluating ventricular function. Our study demonstrated that PH patients have larger RV volumes with low EF and longitudinal strain compared with normal controls. Within the two different PH groups, we observed that IPAH patients have worse RV functional indices compared with APAH-CHD patients. In our sub-analysis of IPAH patients, the outcome predictors remained the same as the entire group of 96 PH patients. Using a multivariate analysis, we demonstrated that ESVi was an independent predictor of adverse clinical events in IPAH patients and that using the Fisher’s score method, we found that the model with SVi and EF as predictors is better than any other models with two predictors. As expected in PH patients with worse functional class and disease severity, their RV volumes were larger with prominent decrease in RV EF. Vitarelli et al.21,22 demonstrated that 3D RV EF provided better diagnostic accuracy in predicting RV failure haemodynamics compared with conventional echocardiography in adult patients with chronic PH and that RV EF decreases in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and correlated with unfavourable outcomes. 3DE has incremental value over 2DE in identifying RV dysfunction in patients with pressure or volume overload.11 Murata et al.23 demonstrated that 3D RV EF was superior to mean pulmonary artery pressure in predicting associated clinical events. As the RV volumes get progressively bigger, the RV function declines with decreased RV EF. Ryo et al.24 also demonstrated that quantitative 3DE in adult PH patients was associated with clinical outcomes and that 3D RV EF was a predictive parameter for combined end point. Our study demonstrates that 3D RV EF can be used to evaluate paediatric PH patients clinically. 2D TAPSE was not a good clinical predictor of adverse events in our patients. This may be because TAPSE is a measure of basal part of the heart with displacement in 1D and does not account for the entire RV volume that contributes to the RV EF.25 TAPSE does not account for the mid and apical RV function of the lateral free wall that is more significantly affected than RV basal segment.15 Okumura et al.15 has demonstrated that the mid and apical RV strain segments in PH patients are more affected than the basal RV function. TAPSE is not reflective of global RV function and is influenced by the passive translational or tethering forces.26 TAPSE is not sensitive in detecting RV dysfunction in adult PH patients compared with 3D RV EF and FAC.11,21,27 Lastly, TAPSE seemed to be preserved in paediatric PH except in children with repaired congenital heart disease.28 2D FAC is a predictor of adverse events in our patients. This is consistent with adult PH studies where FAC has been shown to be an outcome predictor.22,29,30 In addition to decreased 3D RV EF as an outcome predictor, free wall RVLS is a predictor of adverse clinical event in our paediatric PH patients. RV strain is a more sensitive indicator of function and a direct measure of myocardial performance.1,15–17,31–34 Although there were no statistically significant differences in RV strain between our IPAH and APAH-CHD patients, there were significant differences of RV strain from the entire PH cohort when compared with normal controls. APAH-CHD patients likely have decreased RV function from their CHD surgeries despite having better haemodynamics than IPAH patients. Our study showed that free wall RVLS was a strong predictor of adverse clinical events. Adult PH studies showed that RV free wall strain was the best predictor of cardiovascular events and a powerful predictor of clinical outcomes.1,33 Paediatric studies have demonstrated that free wall RV strain can be used as a prediction of worsening WHO-FC and global RV longitudinal strain was reduced in children with IPAH and that it worsened over time in patients who required transplant or died.15,34 Septal RVLS was not a predictor of adverse clinical event in our study. The ventricular septum is shared between the two ventricles and reflects both RV and left ventricle contractility, thus making the septal RVLS values difficult to interpret. Free wall RVLS however is a predictor of adverse clinical events because the free wall RV is not shared with the left ventricle and is the predominant ventricular component contributing to RV contractile function. 4D RV function 2 software generates functional parameters from single 3DE dataset making this an easier use in clinical practice and reducing the amount of time spent using multiple software to analyse 3D dataset and speckle-tracking echocardiography separately. Real-time 3DE can be incorporated into routine clinical use as it provides quantitative assessment of RV without the time and cost associated with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or the invasiveness of the right heart catheterization. Importantly, we have demonstrated that functional measurements derived from one 3D dataset can be used to predict adverse clinical events. Limitations This study has the following limitations. First, we used single beat 3DE because it does not require breath hold in paediatric patients. This single beat 3DE is limited technically because of the big size of the probe that does not fit in between the intercostal spaces of small children. Despite this limitation, single beat 3DE acquisition generated from the Siemens machine has a higher volume rate than other vendor machines and is advantageous over traditional disk summation that require serial heartbeat acquisitions resulting in stitch artifacts. The development of a paediatric 3D transthoracic probe for single beat acquisition could help resolve the technical limitations. Because this is a vendor neutral package that can derive RV functional indices from real-time 3D datasets, the acquisition of 3D dataset is not limited to a specific vendor. Second, limitations to this study include those inherent to a retrospective study. We included patients with two specific aetiologies of PH so that we have two consistent groups of patients who have PAH. We were unable to perform an outcome sub-analysis in APAH-CHD patients due to low adverse events. Lastly, there are no established normal paediatric values for RV EF, FAC, and RV strain. Future studies to establish these values in normal paediatric populations may be helpful as paediatric reference values in echocardiography can be different from adult values. Conclusions Paediatric PH patients have impaired RV function compared with normal children. 3D RV EF, volumes, FAC, and free wall RV strain serve as outcome predictors for paediatric PH patients. Future studies to evaluate changes in these functional parameters as treatment goals with treatment induced improvements would help in future management of these paediatric PH patients. Supplementary data Supplementary data are available at European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging online. Acknowledgements We would like to thank Berthold Klas for his help with the 4D-RV Function 2 software. Conflict of interest: None declared. Funding This study was supported by the Jayden DeLuca Foundation; the Leah Bult Foundation; and the Frederick and Margaret L Weyerhaeuser Foundation. References 1 Fine NM , Chen L , Bastiansen PM , Frantz RP , Pellikka PA , Oh JK et al. Outcome prediction by quantitative right ventricular function assessment in 575 subjects evaluated for pulmonary hypertension . Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2013 ; 6 : 711 – 21 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 2 Ghio S , Gavazzi A , Campana C , Inserra C , Klersy C , Sebastiani R et al. Independent and additive prognostic value of right ventricular systolic function and pulmonary artery pressure in patients with chronic heart failure . J Am Coll Cardiol 2001 ; 37 : 183 – 8 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 3 Ivy DD , Abman SH , Barst RJ , Berger RM , Bonnet D , Fleming TR et al. Pediatric pulmonary hypertension . J Am Coll Cardiol 2013 ; 62 : D117 – 26 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 4 Haddad F , Hunt SA , Rosenthal DN , Murphy DJ. Right ventricular function in cardiovascular disease, part I: anatomy, physiology, aging, and functional assessment of the right ventricle . Circulation 2008 ; 117 : 1436 – 48 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 5 Gopal AS , Chukwu EO , Iwuchukwu CJ , Katz AS , Toole RS , Schapiro W et al. Normal values of right ventricular size and function by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2007 ; 20 : 445 – 55 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 6 Grewal J , Majdalany D , Syed I , Pellikka P , Warnes CA. Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular volume and function in adult patients with congenital heart disease: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2010 ; 23 : 127 – 33 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 7 Maffessanti F , Muraru D , Esposito R , Gripari P , Ermacora D , Santoro C et al. Age-, body size-, and sex-specific reference values for right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by three-dimensional echocardiography: a multicenter echocardiographic study in 507 healthy volunteers . Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2013 ; 6 : 700 – 10 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 8 Khoo NS , Young A , Occleshaw C , Cowan B , Zeng IS , Gentles TL. Assessments of right ventricular volume and function using three-dimensional echocardiography in older children and adults with congenital heart disease: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2009 ; 22 : 1279 – 88 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 9 Lu X , Nadvoretskiy V , Bu L , Stolpen A , Ayres N , Pignatelli RH et al. Accuracy and reproducibility of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography for assessment of right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction in children . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008 ; 21 : 84 – 9 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 10 Rudski LG , Lai WW , Afilalo J , Hua L , Handschumacher MD , Chandrasekaran K et al. Guidelines for the echocardiographic assessment of the right heart in adults: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography endorsed by the European Association of Echocardiography, a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology, and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2010 ; 23 : 685 – 713; quiz 86–8. Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 11 Knight DS , Grasso AE , Quail MA , Muthurangu V , Taylor AM , Toumpanakis C et al. Accuracy and reproducibility of right ventricular quantification in patients with pressure and volume overload using single-beat three-dimensional echocardiography . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2015 ; 28 : 363 – 74 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 12 Tamborini G , Brusoni D , Torres Molina JE , Galli CA , Maltagliati A , Muratori M et al. Feasibility of a new generation three-dimensional echocardiography for right ventricular volumetric and functional measurements . Am J Cardiol 2008 ; 102 : 499 – 505 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 13 Zhang QB , Sun JP , Gao RF , Lee AP , Feng YL , Liu XR et al. Feasibility of single-beat full-volume capture real-time three-dimensional echocardiography for quantification of right ventricular volume: validation by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging . Int J Cardiol 2013 ; 168 : 3991 – 5 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 14 Jone PN , Patel SS , Cassidy C , Ivy DD. Three-dimensional echocardiography of right ventricular function correlates with severity of pediatric pulmonary hypertension . Congenit Heart Dis 2016 ; 11 : 562 – 9 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 15 Okumura K , Humpl T , Dragulescu A , Mertens L , Friedberg MK. Longitudinal assessment of right ventricular myocardial strain in relation to transplant-free survival in children with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2014 ; 27 : 1344 – 51 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 16 Hardegree EL , Sachdev A , Villarraga HR , Frantz RP , McGoon MD , Kushwaha SS et al. Role of serial quantitative assessment of right ventricular function by strain in pulmonary arterial hypertension . Am J Cardiol 2013 ; 111 : 143 – 8 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 17 Sachdev A , Villarraga HR , Frantz RP , McGoon MD , Hsiao JF , Maalouf JF et al. Right ventricular strain for prediction of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension . Chest 2011 ; 139 : 1299 – 309 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 18 Haeck ML , Scherptong RW , Marsan NA , Holman ER , Schalij MJ , Bax JJ et al. Prognostic value of right ventricular longitudinal peak systolic strain in patients with pulmonary hypertension . Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2012 ; 5 : 628 – 36 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 19 Muraru D , Spadotto V , Cecchetto A , Romeo G , Aruta P , Ermacora D et al. New speckle-tracking algorithm for right ventricular volume analysis from three-dimensional echocardiographic data sets: validation with cardiac magnetic resonance and comparison with the previous analysis tool . Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2016 ; 17 : 1279 – 89 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 20 Galie N , Barbera JA , Frost AE , Ghofrani HA , Hoeper MM , McLaughlin VV et al. Initial use of ambrisentan plus tadalafil in pulmonary arterial hypertension . N Engl J Med 2015 ; 373 : 834 – 44 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 21 Vitarelli A , Mangieri E , Terzano C , Gaudio C , Salsano F , Rosato E et al. Three-dimensional echocardiography and 2D-3D speckle-tracking imaging in chronic pulmonary hypertension: diagnostic accuracy in detecting hemodynamic signs of right ventricular (RV) failure . J Am Heart Assoc 2015 ; 4 : e001584. Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 22 Vitarelli A , Barilla F , Capotosto L , D'angeli I , Truscelli G , De Maio M et al. Right ventricular function in acute pulmonary embolism: a combined assessment by three-dimensional and speckle-tracking echocardiography . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2014 ; 27 : 329 – 38 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 23 Murata M , Tsugu T , Kawakami T , Kataoka M , Minakata Y , Endo J et al. Prognostic value of three-dimensional echocardiographic right ventricular ejection fraction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension . Oncotarget 2016 ; 7 : 86781 – 90 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 24 Ryo K , Goda A , Onishi T , Delgado-Montero A , Tayal B , Champion HC et al. Characterization of right ventricular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension associated with patient outcomes by 3-dimensional wall motion tracking echocardiography . Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2015 ; 8 : e003176 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 25 Kind T , Mauritz GJ , Marcus JT , van de Veerdonk M , Westerhof N , Vonk-Noordegraaf A. Right ventricular ejection fraction is better reflected by transverse rather than longitudinal wall motion in pulmonary hypertension . J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2010 ; 12 : 35. Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 26 Anavekar NS , Gerson D , Skali H , Kwong RY , Yucel EK , Solomon SD. Two-dimensional assessment of right ventricular function: an echocardiographic-MRI correlative study . Echocardiography 2007 ; 24 : 452 – 6 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 27 Leary PJ , Kurtz CE , Hough CL , Waiss MP , Ralph DD , Sheehan FH. Three-dimensional analysis of right ventricular shape and function in pulmonary hypertension . Pulm Circ 2012 ; 2 : 34 – 40 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 28 Hauck A , Guo R , Ivy DD , Younoszai A. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion is preserved in young patients with pulmonary hypertension except when associated with repaired congenital heart disease . Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2016 ; 18 : 459 – 466 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS 29 Haddad F , Spruijt OA , Denault AY , Mercier O , Brunner N , Furman D et al. Right heart score for predicting outcome in idiopathic, familial, or drug- and toxin-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension . JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2015 ; 8 : 627 – 38 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 30 Di Bello V , Conte L , Delle Donne MG , Giannini C , Barletta V , Fabiani I et al. Advantages of real time three-dimensional echocardiography in the assessment of right ventricular volumes and function in patients with pulmonary hypertension compared with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography . Echocardiography 2013 ; 30 : 820 – 8 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 31 Rajagopal S , Forsha DE , Risum N , Hornik CP , Poms AD , Fortin TA et al. Comprehensive assessment of right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary hypertension with global longitudinal peak systolic strain derived from multiple right ventricular views . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2014 ; 27 : 657 – 65.e3 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 32 Leitman M , Lysyansky P , Sidenko S , Shir V , Peleg E , Binenbaum M et al. Two-dimensional strain-a novel software for real-time quantitative echocardiographic assessment of myocardial function . J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2004 ; 17 : 1021 – 9 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 33 Motoji Y , Tanaka H , Fukuda Y , Ryo K , Emoto N , Kawai H et al. Efficacy of right ventricular free-wall longitudinal speckle-tracking strain for predicting long-term outcome in patients with pulmonary hypertension . Circ J 2013 ; 77 : 756 – 63 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS PubMed 34 Muntean I , Benedek T , Melinte M , Suteu C , Toganel R. Deformation pattern and predictive value of right ventricular longitudinal strain in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension . Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2015 ; 14 : 27 . Google Scholar CrossRef Search ADS Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/about_us/legal/notices)

Journal

European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging – Oxford University Press

Published: Sep 1, 2018

References

Outcome prediction by quantitative right ventricular function assessment in 575 subjects evaluated for pulmonary hypertension

Fine
Independent and additive prognostic value of right ventricular systolic function and pulmonary artery pressure in patients with chronic heart failure

Ghio
Pediatric pulmonary hypertension

Ivy
Right ventricular function in cardiovascular disease, part I: anatomy, physiology, aging, and functional assessment of the right ventricle

Haddad
Normal values of right ventricular size and function by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Gopal
Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular volume and function in adult patients with congenital heart disease: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging

Grewal
Age-, body size-, and sex-specific reference values for right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by three-dimensional echocardiography: a multicenter echocardiographic study in 507 healthy volunteers

Maffessanti
Assessments of right ventricular volume and function using three-dimensional echocardiography in older children and adults with congenital heart disease: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Khoo
Accuracy and reproducibility of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography for assessment of right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction in children

Lu
Guidelines for the echocardiographic assessment of the right heart in adults: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography endorsed by the European Association of Echocardiography, a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology, and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography

Rudski
Accuracy and reproducibility of right ventricular quantification in patients with pressure and volume overload using single-beat three-dimensional echocardiography

Knight
Feasibility of a new generation three-dimensional echocardiography for right ventricular volumetric and functional measurements

Tamborini
Feasibility of single-beat full-volume capture real-time three-dimensional echocardiography for quantification of right ventricular volume: validation by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Zhang
Three-dimensional echocardiography of right ventricular function correlates with severity of pediatric pulmonary hypertension

Jone
Longitudinal assessment of right ventricular myocardial strain in relation to transplant-free survival in children with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension

Okumura
Role of serial quantitative assessment of right ventricular function by strain in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Hardegree
Right ventricular strain for prediction of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Sachdev
Prognostic value of right ventricular longitudinal peak systolic strain in patients with pulmonary hypertension

Haeck
New speckle-tracking algorithm for right ventricular volume analysis from three-dimensional echocardiographic data sets: validation with cardiac magnetic resonance and comparison with the previous analysis tool

Muraru
Initial use of ambrisentan plus tadalafil in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Galie
Three-dimensional echocardiography and 2D-3D speckle-tracking imaging in chronic pulmonary hypertension: diagnostic accuracy in detecting hemodynamic signs of right ventricular (RV) failure

Vitarelli
Right ventricular function in acute pulmonary embolism: a combined assessment by three-dimensional and speckle-tracking echocardiography

Vitarelli
Prognostic value of three-dimensional echocardiographic right ventricular ejection fraction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Murata
Characterization of right ventricular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension associated with patient outcomes by 3-dimensional wall motion tracking echocardiography

Ryo
Right ventricular ejection fraction is better reflected by transverse rather than longitudinal wall motion in pulmonary hypertension

Kind
Two-dimensional assessment of right ventricular function: an echocardiographic-MRI correlative study

Anavekar
Three-dimensional analysis of right ventricular shape and function in pulmonary hypertension

Leary
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion is preserved in young patients with pulmonary hypertension except when associated with repaired congenital heart disease

Hauck
Right heart score for predicting outcome in idiopathic, familial, or drug- and toxin-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

Haddad
Advantages of real time three-dimensional echocardiography in the assessment of right ventricular volumes and function in patients with pulmonary hypertension compared with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography

Di Bello
Comprehensive assessment of right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary hypertension with global longitudinal peak systolic strain derived from multiple right ventricular views

Rajagopal
Two-dimensional strain-a novel software for real-time quantitative echocardiographic assessment of myocardial function

Leitman
Efficacy of right ventricular free-wall longitudinal speckle-tracking strain for predicting long-term outcome in patients with pulmonary hypertension

Motoji
Deformation pattern and predictive value of right ventricular longitudinal strain in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Muntean

Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

3D echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function and strain: a prognostic study in paediatric pulmonary hypertension

3D echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function and strain: a prognostic study in paediatric pulmonary hypertension

Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

3D echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function and strain: a prognostic study in paediatric pulmonary hypertension

3D echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function and strain: a prognostic study in paediatric pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Journal

Recommended Articles

References

Our policy towards the use of cookies