Tei index for assessing right ventricular function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with different severities of pulmonary hypertension

AIM:To investigate the value of Tei index in assessing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with pulmonary hypertension (PH). METHODS: Ninety-eight patients were selected including 68 confirmed COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and 30 patients as controls. Patients were divided into group A (mild), group B (moderate) and group C (severe) according to the severity of PH estimated from Doppler profile of tricuspid regurgitation jet. Ultrasound measurements including right ventricular anteroposterior diameter, right atrial transverse diameter, and main pulmonary arterial diameter were performed. Right ventricle Tei index was calculated. RESULTS: Compared with those in control group, right ventricular anteroposterior diameter, right atrial transverse diameter and Tei index in both group A and group B were significantly different from the control group. No such differences were found in group C. CONCLUSION: Tei index could be used as a parameter to estimate the right ventricular function in COPD patients with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension.