The Value of Isovolumic Acceleration for the Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the value of tricuspid annulus myocardial isovolumic acceleration (IVA) in the assessment of right ventricular function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: Fifteen patients (mean age 60.6+/-11.3 years) with acute PE were enrolled and a control group was formed of 15 patients with a similar mean age (60.3+/-11.5). Patients who were diagnosed with acute PE by thoracic computed tomography angiography underwent transthoracic echocardiography at the time of diagnosis and at one month after diagnosis. Results: In the control group IVA was 2.8+/-0.2 m/s(2), while in the acute PE group, it was 2.0+/-0.1 m/s(2) at the time of diagnosis and 2.9+/-0.1 m/s(2) at the end of the first month. When IVA values of acute PE patients at the end of the first month were compared with their initial values and those of the control group, they had normalized (control and acute PE p<0.0001; control and PE at one-month follow-up p=0.983). Conclusion: In our study, IVA was shown to be a reliable marker of right ventricular systolic function in patients with acute PE. (C) 2013 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.