Diagnostic role of echocardiography in patients with arrhythmogenic
right ventricular dysplasia

Gheorghe  Cerin; Ileana Vasilescu; Alexandru Dan  Corlan
and Vincenzo Montericcio; Carlo  Santambrogio; Luigi  De Ambroggi

Diagnostic role of echocardiography in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia

Gheorghe Cerin, Ileana Vasilescu, Alexandru Dan Corlan and Vincenzo Montericcio, Carlo Santambrogio, Luigi De Ambroggi,

European Journal of Echocardiography abstract supplement :S5-S5, 1999

ABSTRACT

The diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), which consists in infiltration of libro- adipous tissue in the RV myocardium, is usually made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography (Echo).The ability of MRI to identify flbro-adipous tissue within the ventricular wall makes this technique the non invasive method of choice for the diagnosis. However, Echo maintains a very important diagnos- tic role, due to its widespread accessibility. AIM: a retrospective study to assess the correlation between the criteria of MRI and Echo for the diagnosis of ARVD. STUDY GROUP: 28pts aged 38±3yrs, admitted to our Institution, between 1994-'98 for family history of ARVD and/or vehicular arrhythmias with LBBB QRS configuration (mainIy Lown 4B class). The diagnosis was made by the cdteda proposed by ESC Task Force using history, MRI, ECG, Holler monitoring, transthoracic echo (]-rE). Transesophageal echo (TEE) was performed for a better anatomical definition whenever the quaiity of the l-rE was unsatisfactory. RESULTS. The ECG data in the study group showed the presence of epsilon wave in 4pts (14%), the negative T waves in V t-V3 in 10 (36%) and 4B Lown class arrhythmias in 17 (60%). Echo showed the presence of the RV global dilation in 17pts (60%), RV wall motion abnormalities in 12 (43%), RV wall thickening in 12 (43%) and RV regional aneurysms in 6 (21%). In pts without global RV dilation the echo was focused on the anatomical study of the 'triangle of dysplasia': RV infundibulum, apex and the subtricuspidal area. MRI showed in all 26 pts the presence of a significant degree of RV fibrous-adipous infiltration, global dilation in 12(46%), dilation of the RV infundibulum in 13 (50%), RV wall thinning in 13(50%) and the presence o ) and the presence of RV regional aneurysms in 7 (27%). Statistical analysis (Chi square test) demonstrated significant association between the RV global dilatation on MRI and Echo (p<0.05) and the presence of the RV regional aneurysms on MRI and Echo (p<0.O05). Regional dilation on MRI was significantly associ- ated (p<0.02) with the RV wall thickening on Echo. Also, the regional aneurysms on MRI presented a significant association (p