Impact of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy on Right Ventricular Function using Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Background: Ischemic cardiomyopathy [ICM] refers to the reduced pumping ability of the heart due to damage of myocardium as a result of ischemia. Thus, early detection of coronary artery disease could save the myocardium. Speckle tracking emerged as a new diagnostic tool, but its role in ischemic cardiomyopathy is not well addressed. Aim of the work: To assess right ventricle [RV] function by two-dimensional [2D] speckle tracking imaging in patients with ICM. Patients and Methods: This study included 38 patients with ICM and 30 healthy subjects as a control group. Conventional echo-Doppler parameters of right ventricular function together with tissue Doppler imaging derived RV strain and speckle-tracking echo-derived RV global strain [STE-RVGST] were addressed. Results: The two groups were matched in age and sex. ICM had significantly higher values of LV Tei index [0.90±0.28] versus control group [0.51±0.13] with p value