Simple prediction of right ventricular ejection fraction using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in pulmonary hypertension

The present study examined whether tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) can simply predict right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The TAPSE cut-off value to predict reduced RVEF was also evaluated. The association between TAPSE and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI)-derived RVEF was examined in 53 PH patients. The accuracy of the prediction equation to calculate RVEF using TAPSE was also evaluated. In PH patients, TAPSE was strongly correlated with CMRI-derived RVEF in PH patients (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001). We then examined the accuracy of the two equations: the original regression equation (RVEF = 2.01 x TAPSE + 0.6) and the simplified prediction equation (RVEF = 2 x TAPSE). Bland-Altman plot showed that the mean difference +/- A limits of agreement was 0.0 +/- A 10.6 for the original equation and -0.6 +/- A 10.6 for the simplified equation. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.84 for the original and 0.82 for the simplified equation. Normal RVEF was considered to be a parts per thousand yen40 % based on the data from 53 matched controls, and the best TAPSE cut-off value to determine reduced RVEF (< 40 %) was calculated to be 19.7 mm (sensitivity 88.9 %, specificity 84.6 %). A simple equation of RVEF = 2 x TAPSE enables easy prediction of RVEF using TAPSE, an easily measurable M-mode index of echocardiography. TAPSE of 19.7 mm predicts reduced RVEF in PH patients with clinically acceptable sensitivity and specificity

Associations among the plasma amino acid profile, obesity, and glucose metabolism in Japanese adults with normal glucose tolerance

Background: Amino acids (AAs) are emerging as a new class of effective molecules in the etiology of obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, most investigations have focused on subjects with obesity and/or impaired glucose regulation; the possible involvement of AAs in the initial phase of glucose dysregulation remains poorly understood. Furthermore, little attention has been given to possible associations between the pattern/degree of fat deposition and the plasma AA profile. Our objective was therefore to determine the relationships between plasma AA concentrations and the type/degree of obesity and glucose regulation in Japanese adults with normal glucose tolerance. Methods: Eighty-three subjects with normal glucose tolerance were classified as obese or nonobese and as visceral obesity or nonvisceral obesity. Correlations between the plasma levels of 23 AAs and somatometric measurements, visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), and 75-g oral glucose tolerance test results were analyzed. Results: Obesity or visceral obesity was associated with higher levels of branched-chain AAs (isoleucine, leucine, and valine), lysine, tryptophan, cystine, and glutamate but lower levels of asparagine, citrulline, glutamine, glycine, and serine (p < 0.04). Age-and gender-adjusted analyses indicated that VFA was positively correlated with tryptophan and glutamate levels, whereas VFA and SFA were negatively correlated with citrulline, glutamine, and glycine levels (p < 0.05). The fasting and 2-h plasma glucose levels or the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were positively correlated with valine, glutamate, and tyrosine levels but negatively correlated with citrulline, glutamine, and glycine levels. The homeostasis model assessment for the beta-cell function index was positively correlated with leucine, tryptophan, valine, and glutamate levels but negatively correlated with citrulline, glutamine, glycine, and serine levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The present study identified specific associations between 10 AAs and the type/degree of obesity, and indices of glucose/insulin regulation, in Japanese adults with preserved glucose metabolism. With the growing concern about the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes, the possible roles of these AAs as early markers and/or precursors warrant further investigation

Accuracy of echocardiographic indices for serial monitoring of right ventricular systolic function in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension.

Serial assessment of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) predicts the clinical outcome of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) enables RVEF monitoring, but its applicability is limited in clinical practice. This study aimed to examine the correlation between changes in CMRI-derived RVEF with those in echocardiographic indices in patients with precapillary PH.CMRI and echocardiographic indices of RV systolic function were evaluated at baseline and follow-up in 54 consecutive patients with precapillary PH (pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), n = 23; non-PAH, n = 31). During follow-up, medical treatment was optimized according to the guidelines for PH. Using CMRI-derived RVEF as the gold standard, we examined the accuracy of five echocardiographic indices by correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values.After an average period of 9.5 months, CMRI-derived RVEF improved from 30.2% ± 10.6% at baseline to 41.4% ± 11.3% at follow-up. These changes significantly correlated with those in the five echocardiographic indices, i.e., %RV fractional shortening (r = 0.27), %RV area change (r = 0.46), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (r = 0.84), RV myocardial performance index (RVMPI) (r = -0.72), and systolic lateral tricuspid annular motion velocity (TVlat) (r = 0.66). Of these indices, %RV area change, TAPSE, and TVlat significantly correlated with those of CMRI-derived RVEF in both PAH and non-PAH subgroups. ROC analysis showed that improvement in echocardiographic indices predicted a pre-specified improvement in CMRI-derived RVEF (>2.9%), with TAPSE and TVlat showing better accuracy over the other three indices.Echocardiographic indices modestly correlate with the changes in CMRI-derived RVEF in precapillary PH patients. Comparison among the five echocardiographic indices revealed that TAPSE and TVlat provide better accuracy than %RV fractional shortening, %RV area change, and RVMPI

Baseline patient characteristics.

<p>Baseline patient characteristics.</p

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the accuracy of echocardiographic parameters to detect a significant improvement in CMRI-derived RVEF.

<p>%RV area changes at baseline and follow-up were not calculated in two patients (one PAH, one non-PAH) because of poor image quality, whereas the other four echocardiographic indices were evaluated in all 54 patients. CMRI, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; RV, right ventricular; RVEF, right ventricular ejection fraction; RVFS, right ventricular fractional shortening; TAPSE, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion; RV MPI, right ventricular myocardial performance index; TVlat, systolic lateral tricuspid annular motion velocity.</p

Clinical parameters and treatment regimens for pulmonary hypertension at baseline and follow-up.

<p>Clinical parameters and treatment regimens for pulmonary hypertension at baseline and follow-up.</p

Diagnostic performance of echocardiographic indices to detect significant improvement in CMRI-derived RVEF.

<p>Diagnostic performance of echocardiographic indices to detect significant improvement in CMRI-derived RVEF.</p

Correlation between the changes in CMRI-derived RVEF and echocardiographic parameters.

<p>There were significant correlations between the changes in CMRI-derived RVEF and those in the five echocardiographic indices. %RV area changes at baseline and follow-up were not calculated in two patients (one PAH, one non-PAH) because of poor image quality, whereas the other four echocardiographic indices were evaluated in all 54 patients. CMRI, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; RV, right ventricular; RVEF, right ventricular ejection fraction; RVFS, right ventricular fractional shortening; TAPSE, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion; RV MPI, right ventricular myocardial performance index; TVlat, systolic lateral tricuspid annular motion velocity.</p