Maturational patterns in right ventricular strain mechanics from the fetus to the young infant

Abstract Aim To test the hypothesis that right ventricular (RV) function has age-specific patterns of development, we tracked the evolution of RV strain mechanics by 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) in healthy subjects from mid-gestation through one year of age. Methods We conducted a prospective longitudinal echocardiography study in 50 healthy subjects at five time periods across gestation (16–20 weeks, 21–25 weeks, 26–30 weeks, 31–35 weeks, and 36–40 weeks) and four time periods following delivery (1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year of age). We characterized RV function by measuring RV global and free wall longitudinal strain and systolic strain rate, and segmental longitudinal strain at the apical-, mid-, and basal- ventricular levels of the free wall. Possible associations of gestational age, postnatal age, estimated fetal weight, body surface area, gender, and heart rate on strain were investigated. Results The magnitudes of RV global and free wall longitudinal strain and global strain rate were decreased throughout gestation (p  Conclusion The maturational patterns of RV strain are gestational- and postnatal age- specific. With accepted physiological maturation patterns in healthy subjects, these myocardial deformation parameters can provide a valid basis that allows comparison between health and disease.