Noninvasive Assessment of Right Ventricle function and Pulmonary Artery
Pressure Using Transthoracic Echocardiography in Women with
Pre-eclampsia. An Exploratory Study
Abstract
Objectives: Much less attention has been given to the right heart and
pulmonary circulation compared to the left heart and systemic
circulation in patients with pre-eclampsia (PEC). We used transthoracic
echocardiography (TTE) to estimate pulmonary artery pressure and right
ventricular function in women with PEC. Methods: A case-control study at
a tertiary care academic center. Ten early PEC (<34 week
gestation) and nine late PEC (≥34 weeks gestation) patients with eleven
early and ten late gestational age-matched controls. Two dimensional TTE
was performed on all patients. The estimated mean PA pressure (eMPAP)
was calculated based on pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT).
Pulmonary vascular resistance (ePVR) was estimated from eMPAP and right
ventricular (RV) cardiac output. RV myocardial performance index (RV
MPI), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tissue
tricuspid annular displacement (TTAD) and lateral tricuspid annular
tissue peak systolic velocity (S’) were measured. Results Compared to
early controls, in early PEC the eMPAP and ePVR were elevated, PAAT was
reduced, RV MPI was increased, TTAD was reduced and TAPSE and TV S’ were
unchanged. Compared to late controls, in late PEC, estimated MPAP and
estimated PVR were elevated, PAAT was reduced and RVMPI was increased,
while TAPSE, TTAD and TV S’ were unchanged. Conclusions: Early PEC is
associated with increased eMPAP and ePVR. A subclinical decrement of RV
function is noticed. TTE is a useful screening tool for early detection
of PH and RV dysfunction in PEC.