OBJECTIVETo determine the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) using M-mode echocardiography, and to evaluate the right ventricular systolic function in patients with pneumoconiosis.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-three patients with pneumoconiosis were enrolled as subjects, and one hundred and ninety-nine healthy volunteers were used as controls. According to the types of ventilation dysfunction, patients were divided into four groups: normal type, obstructive type, restrictive type, and mixed type. In the apex four-chamber sections, the displacement of tricuspid annular plane on the right ventricular free wall side was measured from end-diastole to end-systole using M-mode echocardiography.

RESULTSThe average TAPSE in the pneumoconiosis group was significantly lower than that in the control group (18.61 ± 3.08 vs 22.38 ± 3.03 mm, P < 0.01). Along with the progression of pneumoconiosis, the TAPSE values in patients with stage I, II, and III pneumoconiosis were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group (P < 0.01). The TAPSE values in patients diagnosed with normal, obstructive, restrictive, and mixed types of pneumoconiosis in pulmonary function tests were all significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). Among all patients, patients with mixed type of pneumoconiosis had the most significant reduction in the TAPSE.

CONCLUSIONThe TAPSE is substantially decreased in patients with pneumoconiosis and further decreased along with the progression of pneumoconiosis. Measurement of the TAPSE is an easy way to evaluate the right ventricular systolic function in patients with pneumoconiosis.