Long-term follow-up in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy using tissue Doppler imaging.

Full Abstract

AIM: To study patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and describe different echocardiographic parameters and their change over time during almost 10 years follow-up period. METHODS: Fifteen patients (9 male, 6 female), aged 22-58 years (mean 40) with a diagnosis of ARVC, were followed up for a period of 6-10 years (mean 8.7). Twelve-lead and a signal- averaged ECG was recorded. Tricuspid and mitral annular motion and tissue Doppler imaging were registered by echocardiography. Wall motion score index (WMSI) was calculated for the left and right ventricles. RESULTS: We registered significant reduction in systolic tissue velocity on right ventricle free wall between the first and last investigations: 7-17 cm/s (mean 11.8) to 4-15 (mean 9.1), p=0.005. WMSI increased by at least 0.2 in 10/14 patients for the right and in 8/15 patients for the left ventricle. A decrease in velocity time integral for the left ventricular outflow was observed (16-30 to 13-21, p=0.009). CONCLUSION: ARVC is a progressive disease with individual variation. Left ventricular involvement may occur early in the disease. Tissue Doppler imaging is a useful tool to follow-up right ventricular abnormalities.

Author information

Author/s: Aneq, Meriam Aström (MA); Lindström, Lena (L); Fluur, Christina (C); Nylander, Eva (E);

Affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, University Hospital, Linkoping, Sweden. meriam.astrom.aneq(-atsign-)lio.se

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Scandinavian cardiovascular journal : SCJ (Scand Cardiovasc J), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Dec; vol 42 (issue 6) : pp 368-74

Dates: Created 2008/12/03; Completed 2009/02/05;

PMID: 18781452, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Scand Cardiovasc J. 2008 Dec;42(6):363-5. (PMID: 18924017)

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