OBJECTIVETo explore the cardiac function of left and right ventricles in children with bronchial asthma at the acute stage and its association with the disease severity.

METHODSThe cardiac function was evaluated by using the American Acuson 128XP/10 Doppler echocardiography in 24 children with acute severe bronchial asthma and 40 children with acute mild bronchial asthma. Thirty-four healthy children were used as normal controls.

RESULTSThe injury of right ventricle diastolic function was predominant in children with mild asthma, and the right ventricle systolic function was also decreased. The systolic and diastolic function of left ventricle remained normal. In children with severe bronchial asthma, the injury of left ventricle systolic function was commonly seen, and the left ventricle diastolic function and the right ventricle systolic and diastolic function were also damaged.

CONCLUSIONSThe cardiac function damage occurs in children with acute bronchial asthma and may be correlated with the disease severity.