Tricuspid Annular Abnormalities in Isolated Left Ventricular Non-compaction-Insights From the Three-dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiographic MAGYAR-Path Study

IntroductionProminent trabecular left ventricular (LV) meshwork and deep intertrabecular LV recesses are featuring LV non-compaction (LVNC). The aim of this study was to evaluate tricuspid annular (TA) morphological and functional abnormalities by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) in patients with LVNC without right ventricular (RV) involvement. Materials and MethodsThis study consisted of 21 patients with isolated LVNC, from which 6 cases were excluded due to inferior image quality. The remaining patient group consisted of 15 subjects with a mean age of 52.1 +/- 11.4 years (9 males). LVNC was defined according to the Jenni's criteria. Their results were compared to 21 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age: 52.4 +/- 3.9 years, 14 males). Complete routine 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiographic examination was performed in all the patients with isolated LVNC and healthy controls. End-systolic and end-diastolic TA dimensions were assessed on selected planes derived from full-volume 3D echocardiographic datasets during 3DSTE. ResultsPatients with isolated LVNC showed significantly dilated end-systolic and end-diastolic TA diameter and area, which were accompanied with preserved TA functional properties and associated with right atrial (RA) volumes. TA plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) showed mild correlations with TA fractional area change (TAFAC) and TA fractional shortening (TAFS). No correlations could be demonstrated between TAPSE and TA morphological features. Extent of LVNC did not correlate with any echocardiographic parameters. ConclusionTA is dilated with preserved sphincter-like function in patients with isolated LVNC. Longitudinal (TAPSE) and sphincter-like (TAFAC and TAFS) TA movements correlate with each other. TA dilation is associated with an increased RA volumes respecting cardiac cycle.

Automated summary

This study evaluated tricuspid annular (TA) morphological and functional abnormalities using three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) in patients with isolated LVNC. The results showed that patients with isolated LVNC had dilated TA with preserved function, and the extent of TA dilation was associated with increased right atrial volumes.