Objective To measure tricuspid annular displacement by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients,and compare with the right ventricular function parameters,finally discuss the clinical application value of this technology in evaluating the right ventricular function in PH.Methods A total of 58 patients diagnosed or suspected diagnosed as PH were divided into PH group and control group according to pulmonary arterial systolic pressure measured by echocardiography.The right ventricular function parameters included:tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE),right ventricular fractional area change (FAC),tissue Doppler-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (s') and right ventricular index of myocardial performance (RIMP).The parameters of tricuspid annular displacement included:the peak systolic tricuspid annular displacement at right ventricular free wall (TMAD1),the peak systolic tricuspid annular displacement at interventricular septum (TMAD2),the peak systolic tricuspid annular displacement at midpoint of tricuspid annulus (TMADm) and the right ventricular longitudinal shortening (TMADm％).Results ① There were significant statistical differences between two groups in TAPSE,RIMP,FAC and s' (P ＜0.01),TMAD1 (P＜0.05),and TMAD2,TMADm and TMADm％ (P ＜0.01).② Area under ROC curve indicated that parameters of tricuspid annular displacement had moderate predictive value in predicting the decline of right ventricular function in PH patients (P ＜0.01).③ Setting 15.5％ as cut-off value for TMADm％ to assessment FAC＜35 ％,TAPSE＜17 mm,RIMP＞0.54 and s'＜9.5 cm/s,their sensitivities were 81.8％,84.4％,85.7％ and 72.3％ respectively,and their specificities were 72.0％,73.1％,70.3％ and 100％ respectively.Conclusions The tricuspid annular tissue displacement parameters can predict the decrease of right ventricular function in patients with PH,and provide a new diagnostic index for clinical treatment and prognosis.

ObjectiveTo enhance understanding on echocardiographic and clinical characteristics of valve lesions of non-infective endocarditis (NIE), particularly in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Comparative analysis of the diagnostic value of echocardiography was performed in patients with non-infective endocarditis and atypical infective endocarditis (IE).MethodsData from 38 patients with clinically diagnosed NIE in the institution were collected retrospectively during July 2005 and January 2015, including 10 patients with SLE, 10 with rheumatic heart disease, 11 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 7 with hepatitis B. Data of 42 patients diagnosed as atypical IE during the same period were collected as control group. All patients underwent examinations of blood culture, sero-immunological tests, electrocardiogram and echocardiography. Comparison was made between the two groups using SPSS 11.5 software package. ResultsThe difference in blood culture, sero-immunological tests and electrocardiogram was statistically signiifcant between the groups (χ2 value, 26.29, 5.53, and 4.80, respectively, allP<0.05), although there was no statistical difference in results of echocardiography (χ2=0.03,P>0.05). Echocardiography identiifed valvular vegetations in 27 of 38 patients, with NIE with a detection rate of 71.0%; The size of the vegetations ranged from 2 to 7 mm in diameter; Valve vegetations was found in 36 of 42 patients with atypical IE, with a detection rate of 85.7%; the other six cases demonstrated valvular thickening only; in this group, the vegetations ranged from 2 mm to 19 mm in size and were located in the left heart in 28 patients, 8 cases in the right heart. In the case group, two cases of valve lesions in patients with SLE were confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), while missed on TEE examination. Nine cases with more than mild valve regurgitation were identiifed. Ten cases were treated with hormones and cyclophosphamide, after which valve lesions resolution was found on serial echocardiography tests with a follow-up period of 5 days to 3 years.Conclusions Echocardiography is capable of detecting valve lesions at early stage in patients with NIE, particularly in patients with SLE. Echocardiography plays a crucial role in identifying the non-infective thrombotic vegetations, guiding clinical treatment and monitoring the therapeutic effects.