Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Published on: June 27, 2025
Use of the myocardial performance index to assess right ventricular function in infants with pulmonary hypertension
Neil Patel1, John F Mills, Michael M H Cheung
1Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Dalnair Street, Yorkhill, Glasgow, G3 8SJ, UK. neil.patel@nhs.net
Insights
The right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) effectively detects right ventricular dysfunction in infants with pulmonary hypertension (PHT). However, RVMPI does not show a linear relationship with pulmonary artery pressure in these infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Neonatology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in infants can lead to significant right ventricular (RV) dysfunction.
- Accurate assessment of RV function is crucial for managing PHT in neonates.
- The myocardial performance index (RVMPI) is a potential tool for evaluating RV function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure and compare RV function using RVMPI in normal infants versus those with PHT.
- To investigate the relationship between RV function (RVMPI) and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in infants.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 16 infants with PHT and 28 healthy controls.
- RVMPI was measured in all infants.
- In PHT infants, 43 paired measurements of RVMPI and estimated PAP (via tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Mean RVMPI was significantly higher in PHT infants (0.55±0.17) compared to controls (0.24±0.09).
- Infants with PHT secondary to congenital diaphragmatic hernia also showed elevated RVMPI (0.58±0.18).
- A poor, non-linear correlation was found between RVMPI and estimated PAP in PHT infants (R²=0.05, p=0.17).
Conclusions:
- RVMPI is a valuable tool for quantifying RV function and detecting RV dysfunction in infants with PHT.
- There is no linear relationship between RVMPI and pulmonary artery pressure in this population.
- Clinical use of RVMPI requires consideration of its global and load-dependent characteristics.
Background:
This study aimed to measure and compare right ventricular (RV) function in normal infants and those with pulmonary hypertension (PHT) using the myocardial performance index (RVMPI) and to investigate the relationship between RV function and pulmonary artery pressure.
Methods:
A case-control study measured RVMPI in 16 infants with PHT (9 of whom had congenital diaphragmatic hernia) and 28 normal control infants. For the PHT infants, 43 paired measures of RVMPI and pulmonary artery pressure (estimated from tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity) were taken to allow investigation of the relationship between RVMPI and pulmonary artery pressure.
Results:
The mean RVMPI for the control infants was 0.24+/-0.09. The RVMPI was significantly elevated in the PHT group (0.55+/-0.17; p<0.0001), including a subgroup of infants with PHT secondary to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (0.58+/-0.18; p<0.0001). The correlation between RVMPI and pulmonary artery pressure in the infants with PHT (R2=0.05; p=0.17) was poor.
Conclusions:
In infants, RVMPI allows quantification of right ventricular function and detection of RV dysfunction in PHT. No linear relationship exists between RVMPI pulmonary artery pressure. Use of RVMPI in the clinical setting must take into account the global and load-dependent nature of this measure.
