Abstract

The aim of this study was to use novel area-deformation (e) loops to interrogate the interaction between the right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) mechanics following a 100-mile endurance run.Fifteen participants (mean body mass, 70.1 ± 8.8 kg; mean age, 40 ± 8 years) were recruited for the study. Echocardiography was performed before the race, after the race, and 6 hours into recovery. RV and LV area and longitudinal e were assessed using standard and speckle-tracking echocardiography. Following cubic spline interpolation, these variables were obtained across the same cardiac cycle and used to derive area-e loops.The RV area-e loop demonstrated a rightward shift after the race, with increased RV area (from 26.0 to 27.1 cm(2)) and reduced peak RV e (from -28.6% to -25.8%). The recovery RV area-e loop was similar to the postrace loop. A leftward shift was observed in the LV area-e loop after the race, secondary to reduced LV area (from 35.8 to 32.5 cm(2)) and reduced peak e (from -18.3% to -16.6%). In recovery, LV e values returned toward baseline.A 100-mile ultramarathon resulted in a rightward shift in the RV area-e loop as a result of RV dilatation. There was a concomitant leftward shift in the LV area-e loop as a result of underfilling of the left ventricle. At 6 hours after exercise, there was a partial recovery of the left ventricle, while RV function remained depressed. It appears that changes in RV function do not have a serial impact on the left ventricle during recovery from ultra-endurance activity.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.echo.2016.05.004

View details for PubMedID 27373587