Right ventricular function impaired in children and adolescents with severe idiopathic scoliosis

BACKGROUND: Although it is speculated that scoliosis may induce cardiac dysfunction, there is no report about evaluation of cardiac function, especially right cardiac function in patients with scoliosis. Therefore, we evaluated right ventricular function in idiopathic scoliotic patients with mild to severe curves and compared them with healthy children and adolescents matched in age, then explored relationship between scoliosis and right ventricular function. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis with a mean age of 16y/o (range, 8-25y/o) and an average spine curve of 77.5°Cobb (range, 30-157°) were studied by echocardiography. TAD was obtained using M-mode echocardiography. Similar examination was performed in a control group of 17 healthy individuals in matched-age. According to the different curve degree, all patients were divided into 3 groups (mild, moderate and severe). Comparison was done among the groups and the relationship between TAD and spine curve of Cobb was analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with severe scoliosis showed depressed TAD. There was good correlation between TAD and spine curve of Cobb. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe scoliosis showed a significant lower right ventricular systolic function.