Tripartite Assessment of Right Ventricular Systolic Function in Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn

Abstract

Non-invasive evaluation of right ventricular (RV) systolic function in neonates with pulmonary hypertension (PH) with traditional metrics including RV fractional area change (FAC) and tricuspid annular systolic plane excursion (TAPSE) has improved outcomes. Apical three-chamber (3C) RV-FAC, a novel tripartite assessment of the RV, has recently been described in healthy infants. We assess the utility of 3C RV-FAC and biplane RV-FAC in delayed transitioning and neonatal PH. Echocardiograms for 22 normal infants and 22 infants with PH were retrospectively analyzed for RV systolic function indices including four chamber (4C), 3C, and biplane RV-FAC, TAPSE, Tei index, and RV systolic excursion velocity (S'). 4C, 3C, and biplane RV-FAC correlated with PH severity and was decreased in neonates with PH compared to normal neonates (biplane RV-FAC 31.7 ± 13.4% vs. 41 .9 ± 4.7%, p = 0.002). TAPSE was significantly decreased in neonates with PH, but did not correlate with PH severity. Other RV systolic function metrics were not significantly different between normal neonates and neonates with PH. 3C RV-FAC and biplane RV-FAC are lower in neonates with PH. 3C and biplane RV-FAC may allow for improved assessment of global RV systolic dysfunction in newborns with delayed transitioning or PH compared to the commonly used regional methods.

Keywords: Pulmonary hypertension; Right ventricular fractional area change; Transthoracic echocardiogram.