Right Ventricular Function in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Potential Value of Strain Echocardiography

Figures

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  Figure 1. Representative examples of RV speckle tracking. Both figures represent speckle tracking performed in the modified 4-chamber, RV-focused view. (A) is an example of a healthy individual. Segmental strain curves are shown as colored lines, whereas the global value is shown as white dotted line. Note the global strain value of −21.6% and the synchronous contraction pattern with peak strain values aligned at the green line (corresponding to pulmonic valve closure). (B) is an example of speckle tracking in a patient with overt ARVC. Note the lower global strain value of −17.4%, the heterogenous contraction pattern, and delayed onset of contraction with post-systolic shortening in the subctricuspid segment (yellow curve). RV: right ventricular; ARVC: arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

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  Figure 2. RV deformation pattern classification. Based on the presence of different strain abnormalities in the right ventricular (RV) basal area, 3 distinct characteristic RV deformation patterns were identified: type I represents normal deformation; type II shows delayed onset of shortening (yellow dot) and reduced systolic peak strain (white square) compared with normal deformation and presence of post-systolic shortening (arrow); and type III displays prominent systolic stretching (upward arrows) and passive recoil or shortening (downward arrow) during early diastole. Dotted white lines indicate type I deformation pattern for comparison. PVO/PVC 1⁄4 pulmonary valve opening/closure” Mast et al. [52]. Reproduced with permission from RightsLink/Elsevier.