Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: The Role of Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Strain.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure with abnormal right ventricular (RV) pressure overload that may alter left ventricular (LV) function. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of RV pressure overload on LV function in PAH patients using two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking strain.

Methods: The study enrolled 37 group 1 PAH patients and 38 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.