[Isolated myocardial infarction in the right ventricle: clinical and echocardiographic study]

The purpose of this study was, on the basis of 4 cases of isolated infarction of the right ventricle (RV), to describe the clinical profile of this disorder and compare the value of ultrasonography with other invasive methods of investigation (hemodynamic and kinetic angiocardiographic methods) in diagnosis and evaluation of the prognosis. In all cases the clinical situation was indicative: prolonged chest pain, slight enzymatic peak, downward shift of the ST segment in V3R and V4R. The diagnosis was rapidly confirmed by ultrasound in the face of the abnormal isolated segmental kinetics in the RV, associated with cavity dilatation and tricuspid incompetence. These data were consistent with those of RV kinetic angiography. Right cardiac catheterism showed the classical signs of adiastolism with no reduction in heart rate, except in one case. The outcome was generally simple. Ultrasound revealed the regression of the abnormalities of parietal kinetics. Thus, ultrasound examination is shown to be a method of exploration which is easy to perform and effective in the diagnosis of this disorder with a good prognosis.