Right ventricular myocardial performance index derived from tissue Doppler echocardiography is useful in differentiating apical ballooning syndrome from cardiomyopathy due to left anterior descending coronary artery disease.

Background: Apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) and obstructive coronary artery disease of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) can both result in similar left ventricular apical wall motion abnormalities. The right ventricle may more likely be involved in ABS, and its careful evaluation may help differentiate the two conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the roles of echocardiographic measures of right ventricular (RV) function, namely, Doppler tissue imaging-derived RV index of myocardial performance (RIMP), RV basal free wall systolic excursion velocity (RV S'), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, in differentiating ABS from obstructive LAD disease.