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Abstract Background In adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), right ventricular (RV) failure may worsen rapidly, resulting in a poor prognosis. In this population, non-invasive assessment of RV function is challenging. RV stroke work index (RVSWI) measured by right heart catheterization (RHC) represents a promising index for RV function. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively evaluate non-invasive measures to calculate RVSWI derived by echocardiography (RVSWIECHO) using RHC (RVSWIRHC) as a reference in adult PAH patients. Methods Retrospectively, 54 consecutive treatment naïve patients with PAH (65 ± 13 years, 36 women) were analyzed. Echocardiography and RHC were performed within a median of 1 day [IQR 0–1 days]. RVSWIRHC was calculated as: (mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP)—mean right atrial pressure (mRAP)) x stroke volume index (SVI)RHC. Four methods for RVSWIECHO were evaluated: RVSWIECHO-1 = Tricuspid regurgitant maximum pressure gradient (TRmaxPG) x SVIECHO, RVSWIECHO-2 = (TRmaxPG-mRAPECHO) x SVIECHO, RVSWIECHO-3 = TR mean gradient (TRmeanPG) x SVIECHO and RVSWIECHO-4 = (TRmeanPG–mRAPECHO) x SVIECHO. Estimation of mRAPECHO was derived from inferior vena cava diameter. Results RVSWIRHC was 1132 ± 352 mmHg*mL*m−2. In comparison with RVSWIRHC in absolute values, RVSWIECHO-1 and RVSWIECHO-2 was significantly higher (p

Abstract Background Right ventricular (RV) function is a major determinant of outcome in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is gold standard to assess RV ejection fraction (RVEFCMR), however this is a crude measure. New CMR measures of RV function beyond RVEFCMR have emerged, such as RV lateral atrio-ventricular plane displacement (AVPDlat), maximum emptying velocity (S’CMR), RV fractional area change (FACCMR) and feature tracking of the RV free wall (FWSCMR). However, it is not fully elucidated if these CMR measures are in parity with the equivalent echocardiography-derived measurements: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), S’-wave velocity (S’echo), RV fractional area change (FACecho) and RV free wall strain (FWSecho). The aim of this study was to compare regional RV function parameters derived from CMR to their echocardiographic equivalents in patients with pulmonary hypertension and to RVEFCMR. Methods Fifty-five patients (37 women, 62 ± 15 years) evaluated for pulmonary hypertension underwent CMR and echocardiography. AVPDlat, S’CMR, FACCMR and FWSCMR from cine 4-chamber views were compared to corresponding echocardiographic measures and to RVEFCMR delineated in cine short-axis stack. Results A strong correlation was demonstrated for FAC whereas the remaining measurements showed moderate correlation. The absolute bias for S’ was 2.4 ± 3.0 cm/s (relative bias 24.1 ± 28.3%), TAPSE/AVPDlat 5.5 ± 4.6 mm (33.2 ± 25.2%), FWS 4.4 ± 5.8% (20.2 ± 37.5%) and for FAC 5.1 ± 8.4% (18.5 ± 32.5%). In correlation to RVEFCMR, FACCMR and FWSecho correlated strongly, FACecho, AVPDlat, FWSCMR and TAPSE moderately, whereas S’ had only a weak correlation. Conclusion This study has demonstrated a moderate to strong correlation of regional CMR measurements to corresponding echocardiographic measures. However, biases and to some extent wide limits of agreement, exist between the modalities. Consequently, the equivalent measures are not interchangeable at least in patients with pulmonary hypertension. The echocardiographic parameter that showed best correlation with RVEFCMR was FWSecho. At present, FACecho and FWSecho as well as RVEFCMR are the preferred methods to assess and follow up RV function in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Future investigations of the CMR right ventricular measures, beyond RVEF, are warranted.