Mysterious right ventricular function detection in isolated left anterior descending disease by speckle tracking imaging

Background and aim Early detection of impaired right ventricle (RV) would give significant data for management strategy and prognosis in patients with history of cardiac disease. Echocardiography machine is still the first and most widely used cardiac imaging modality in diagnosing heart disease and assessing systolic and diastolic function with high accuracy. The study aimed to assess mysterious RV function in significant isolated left anterior descending (LAD) disease by imaging with speckle tracking, strain, and strain rate. Patients and methods The present study was a comparative prospective study included 100 participants, 50 patients with significant LAD disease who were candidates for Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (group I), and 50 persons as a control group (group II). All participants were exposed to full medical history, clinical examination, ECG, conventional echo, tissue Doppler, speckle tracking imaging. Results Global longitudinal free wall strain was statistically lower in patient than control group (−19.21±4.11 in patient group vs. −23.73±1.53 in control group, P <0.001), and RV peak systolic strain rate was reduced in patient group than control group (−1.47±0.55 vs. −1.87±0.42, P <0.001). Conclusion In isolated significant LAD disease RV function should be assessed even after opening of LAD by PCI. New echo modality like strain and strain rate are useful echo methods to detect mysterious RV function in patients with significant LAD disease.