BACKGROUND: In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients the right ventricle (RV) suffers a progressive deterioration, but it is not clear when these changes begin. The aim of this study was to analyze the RV function in CF patients with mild respiratory disease. METHODS: Color-Doppler-Echocardiographic studies were prospectively performed in CF adolescent patients and an age-matched control group. Findings were correlated with pulmonary function tests (PFT), genotype, chronic bacterial colonization, pancreatic status and clinical scores. Only patients with mild CF were selected. RESULTS: Thirty seven CF patients and 40 healthy controls were recruited. In CF patients all echocardiographic parameters were abnormal compared to controls. Doppler analysis showed slightly elevated pulmonary artery pressure values, and abnormal relaxation and systolic function for all indexes. No correlation was found with any of the features studied. CONCLUSIONS: In CF patients, abnormalities in the structure and function of the RV may be present at early stages of the disease. These abnormalities are subclinical and do not correlate with clinical scores, PFT, genotype, chronic bacterial colonization or pancreatic insufficiency.
BACKGROUND: In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients the right ventricle (RV) suffers a progressive deterioration, but it is not clear when these changes begin. The aim of this study was to analyze the RV function in CFpatients with mild respiratory disease. METHODS: Color-Doppler-Echocardiographic studies were prospectively performed in CF adolescentpatients and an age-matched control group. Findings were correlated with pulmonary function tests (PFT), genotype, chronic bacterial colonization, pancreatic status and clinical scores. Only patients with mild CF were selected. RESULTS: Thirty seven CFpatients and 40 healthy controls were recruited. In CFpatients all echocardiographic parameters were abnormal compared to controls. Doppler analysis showed slightly elevated pulmonary artery pressure values, and abnormal relaxation and systolic function for all indexes. No correlation was found with any of the features studied. CONCLUSIONS: In CFpatients, abnormalities in the structure and function of the RV may be present at early stages of the disease. These abnormalities are subclinical and do not correlate with clinical scores, PFT, genotype, chronic bacterial colonization or pancreatic insufficiency.
Authors: Philip T Levy; Brittney Dioneda; Mark R Holland; Timothy J Sekarski; Caroline K Lee; Amit Mathur; W Todd Cade; Alison G Cahill; Aaron Hamvas; Gautam K Singh Journal: J Am Soc Echocardiogr Date: 2015-03-07 Impact factor: 5.251
Authors: Jinny J Guo; David A Stoltz; Vivian Zhu; Kenneth A Volk; Jeffrey L Segar; Paul B McCray; Robert D Roghair Journal: J Cyst Fibros Date: 2013-10-31 Impact factor: 5.482