Key Points
- To assess the diagnostic value of speckle tracking-derived right ventricular global longitudinal strain in evaluating right ventricular function compared with three-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
- Evaluated 60 subjects (mean age 45 ± 10 years; 60% male) who were referred for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and underwent concurrent echocardiographic assessment.
- Quantified right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction (RVEF) via real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and CMR, alongside 2D echocardiographic parameters including right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RV GLS).
- RV GLS (R = -0.69, P < 0.001) and RT3DE RVEF (R = 0.56, P < 0.001) correlated significantly with CMR RVEF, while RT3DE end-diastolic (R = 0.74, P < 0.001) and end-systolic volumes (R = 0.84, P < 0.001) also correlated strongly with CMR volumes.
- RV GLS was an independent predictor of CMR-defined right ventricular dysfunction (RVEF <48%; hazard ratio = 7.0, 95% CI [1.5–31.7], P < 0.01), with an RV GLS cutoff of -20% demonstrating optimal diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.8, 95% CI [0.57–1.0], P < 0.02).
Structured PICO
Does RV GLS accurately predict RV dysfunction compared to CMR in subjects referred for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging?
PPopulation60 subjects referred for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), mean age 45 ± 10 years, 60% male.
IInterventionSpeckle tracking echocardiography-derived right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RV GLS) and real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE)
CComparatorCardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and traditional two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic parameters
OOutcomeCorrelation with CMR-derived RV ejection fraction and prediction of RV dysfunction (defined as RVEF <48% on CMR)surrogate
RV GLS correlates well with CMR-derived RVEF and is a strong, sensitive predictor of RV dysfunction, supporting its use as a complementary imaging modality.