EVALUATION OF RIGHT VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC BRONCHOPULMONARY PATHOLOGY

Abstract

Background Early recognition of right ventricular (RV) failure in patients with chronic lung diseases is still challenging. In this regard, the study of RV diastolic function as an early marker of subclinical RV dysfunction is of significant practical interest.

Objective We sought to evaluate the influence of chronic lung pathology and age on the RV relaxation properties and to identify the criteria for differential diagnosis of age-related changes in RV diastolic function and increased myocardial stiffness in case of chronic lung disease.

Material and Methods This was a study of 80 patients aged 31 to 68 (40 patients with chronic lung  pathology and 40 healthy controls) being treated at the Research Institute – Ochapovsky Regional Hospital no. 1. All subjects underwent echocardiography with transtricuspidal and transmitral blood flow assessment and spectral tissue Doppler of the mitral and tricuspid annuli.

Results 32 (80%) patients with lung disease demonstrated RV diastolic dysfunction. Of them, 18 (81%) patients are older than 60 years, and 14 (78%) patients are younger than 60 years. The indicators of RV filling were significantly lower compared to the control group not only in older patients but also in patients < 60.

Conclusion The majority of patients with chronic lung pathology exhibited impaired RV diastolic function.The RV diastolic function was detected more often in older patients, but it also occurred in patients of the middle age group. Thus, we arrive at the conclusion that the RV myocardial stiffness is being increased in the  case of chronic lung diseases.