OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of pulmonary valve annular motion by quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) in children with pulmonary hypertension.

METHODSThe pulmonary valve annular motion was assessed by QTVI in 32 children with pulmonary hypertension and 32 healthy children. The QTVI sample volume was set at the point of pulmonary valve annulus to acquire speed-time curve and the parameters from the views of parasternal aortic short-axis or subxiphoid right ventricular outflow long-axis. The parameters of pulmonary valve annular motion of children with pulmonary hypertension were compared to those of normal children.

RESULTSThe speed-time curve of pulmonary valve annulus was similar with that of tricuspid annulus in normal children. Compared to normal children, the ratio of Ea/Aa (the velocity parameter of pulmonary valve annular motion) was significantly lower in children with pulmonary hypertension (0.68 ±0.36 Compared with 1.18 ±0.43, P<0.001); and the value of QTVI-Tei index at the pulmonary annulus was significantly higher (0.82 ±0.34 Compared with 0.37 ±0.05, P<0.001). The QTVI-Tei index was positively correlated with the resistance of pulmonary vessel (r=0.556, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe ratio of Ea/Aa is decreased, the value of QTVI-Tei index is increased and QTVI-Tei index is positively correlated with the resistance of pulmonary vessel in children with pulmonary hypertension.