• Janne Mykland Hilde, Ingunn Skjørten, Ole Jørgen Grøtta, Viggo Hansteen, Morten Nissen Melsom, Jonny Hisdal, Sjur Humerfelt, and Kjetil Steine.
• Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
• J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2013 Sep 17;62(12):1103-11.

ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to elucidate right ventricular (RV) function and structure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) without pulmonary hypertension (PH).BackgroundThere is little knowledge of RV function and remodeling in COPD without PH.MethodsThirty-four controls and 98 patients with COPD were included. The study patients were divided into 2 groups by right heart catheterization: no PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP] <25 mm Hg) and PH (mPAP ≥25 mm Hg). The echocardiographic tissue Doppler imaging variables of RV isovolumic acceleration, peak systolic strain, and RV myocardial performance index were measured at the basal free wall, and RV wall thickness and RV internal dimension were measured in the RV outflow tract.ResultsThe increases in RV wall thickness and RV dimension were more evident when comparing controls with the no PH group (3.5 ± 0.5 mm to 5.5 ± 1.0 mm [p < 0.01] and 1.5 cm ± 0.2 to 2.0 ± 0.5 cm [p < 0.01]) than comparing the no PH group with the PH group (5.5 ± 1.0 mm to 6.6 ± 1.1 mm [p < 0.01] and 2.0 cm ± 0.5 to 2.1 ± 0.3 cm [p = NS]), respectively. Similarly, RV isovolumic acceleration, performance index, and strain deteriorated significantly when comparing controls with the no PH group and comparing the no PH group with the PH group (p < 0.01). Significant correlations were observed between mPAP and RV isovolumic acceleration, performance index, strain, and RV wall thickness (p < 0.01). RV impairment and increased RV wall thickness and RV dimensions were present even at slight elevations of mPAP (18 ± 3 mm Hg) in the no PH group.ConclusionsThe present study showed that impaired RV systolic function, hypertrophy, and dilation were present even at a slight increase of mPAP, which indicates an early impact on RV function and structure in patients with COPD. RV isovolumic acceleration, performance index, and strain could detect subclinical disease and separate controls from those with no PH.Copyright © 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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