Doppler evaluation of patients with constrictive pericarditis: Use of tricuspid regurgitation velocity curves to determine enhanced ventricular interaction

Elizabeth Klodas, Rick A. Nishimura, Christopher P. Appleton, Margaret M. Redfield, Jae K. Oh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives. This study sought to examine the value of analyzing Doppler echocardiographically derived tricuspid regurgitation signals during respiration in relation to the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. Background. A physiologic hallmark of constrictive pericarditis is enhanced ventricular interdependence, which produces reciprocal changes in right and left ventricular filling and ejection dynamics during the respiratory cycle. It was hypothesized that these changes could be defected noninvasively by analyzing Doppler echocardiographically derived tricuspid regurgitation signals and that this information could assist in noninvasively diagnosing constrictive pericarditis. Methods. Simultaneous Doppler echocardiography and catheterization studies of the right and left sides of the heart with high fidelity pressure manometers were performed in 5 patients with surgically confirmed constrictive pericarditis and 12 patients (control subjects) with heart failure due to other causes. Results. Changes observed in tricuspid regurgitation Doppler echocardiographic variables from onset to peak inspiration in patients with constrictive pericarditis were significantly different from those in control subjects. Mean (±SD) percent change in maximal tricuspid regurgitation velocity was 13% ± 6% and -8% ± 7% in the constrictive pericarditis and control groups, respectively (p < 0.0001); mean percent change in tricuspid regurgitation signal duration was 18% ± 2% and -2% ± 7%, respectively (p < 0.0001); mean percent change in tricuspid regurgitation time velocity integral was 27% ± 15% and -10% ± 12%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Conclusions. Respiratory changes in Doppler echocardiographically derived tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity and velocity duration are increased in patients with constrictive pericarditis and may be helpful in diagnosing this condition noninvasively.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)652-657
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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