Evaluation of right ventricular longitudinal function in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy by twodimensional strain imaging

AIM:To evaluate the right ventricular longitudinal function with twodimensional strain imaging (2DSI) in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). METHODS: Conventional echocardiographic parameters and 2DSI parameters were examined in 32 ACM patients (ACM group) and 35 healthy adults (control group). 2DSI parameters were recorded from the displacement (D), strain (S) and strain rate (SRs) curves, which were obtained from basal to apical right ventricular free wall in apical fourchamber using 2DSI. Parameters of peak systolic longitudinal displacement (D), strain (S), systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic strain rate (SRe) and late diastolic strain rate (SRa) were included. RESULTS: Compared with control group, RVEDd significantly increased in ACM group (P<005), but no obvious difference was seen in RVEF between groups. Parameters of D, S, SRs, SRe and SRa of all right ventricular free wall segments obtained by 2DSI significantly decreased in ACM group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: 2DSI provides an effective and noninvasive tool to assess right ventricular longitudinal function in patients with ACM, which has important clinical value.