A speckle tracking echocardiographic study on right ventricular function in primary aldosteronism.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Primary aldosteronism is associated with cardiovascular complications.
• Right ventricular function is crucial for overall cardiac health.
• Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a valuable tool for assessing myocardial function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate right ventricular function in patients with primary aldosteronism.
• To compare right ventricular function between primary aldosteronism and primary hypertension patients.
• To explore the correlation between right ventricular strain and aldosterone levels.

Main Methods:

• Included 51 primary aldosteronism patients and 50 primary hypertensive patients.
• Performed two-dimensional echocardiography for cardiac structure and function assessment.
• Utilized STE for offline analysis of right ventricular four-chamber (RV4CLS) and free wall longitudinal strains (RVFWLS).

Main Results:

• Primary aldosteronism patients showed greater left ventricular mass index and left atrial volume index.
• They also had impaired right ventricular function, including lower RV4CLS and RVFWLS compared to hypertensive patients.
• Reduced right ventricular strain (RV4CLS and RVFWLS) significantly correlated with aldosterone levels.

Conclusions:

• Primary aldosteronism is associated with impaired right ventricular function beyond left ventricular abnormalities.
• Hyperaldosteronism likely contributes to this right ventricular dysfunction.
• STE is effective in detecting subtle right ventricular functional changes in primary aldosteronism.