Measuring of strain parameters reflects changes of right ventricular function before and after thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

Strain parameters on speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) have been proposed as effective indexes for evaluating right ventricular (RV) function. This pilot study investigated the role of STE-derived strain parameters in assessing global and regional RV myocardial mechanical changes in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) before and after thrombolytic therapy. In this case–control study, a total of 73 PE patients, 34 with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and 39 without PH, who underwent thrombolytic therapy were included. Healthy volunteers were included as controls. The peak longitudinal systolic strain (PLSS) and time to PLSS (TTP) for the global and regional RV were analyzed by STE software immediately before and 14 days after thrombolytic therapy. Changes in STE-derived strain parameters and conventional ultrasound parameters were compared. PLSS and TTP decreased before treatment in PE patients compared with measurements in the control group, particularly in those with PH. Also, the strain parameters decreased more significantly for the free wall than for the septum wall (P < 0.05). Moreover, the RV diastolic diameter (RVDD) and RV/left ventricular (LV) diameter ratio increased, while RV fraction shortening (RVFS), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG), and tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion (TAPSE) decreased (P < 0.05). The global strain parameters for the RV were positively correlated with RVDD and RV/LV diameter ratio, but negatively correlated with RVFS, RVFAC, TRPG, and TAPSE (P < 0.05). After treatment, the strain parameters differed significantly between PE patients with PH and controls but did not differ between PE patients without PH and controls. STE-derived parameters are effective for detecting changes in global and regional RV function in PE patients with or without acute PH.