Association of Echocardiographic Parameters of Right Ventricular Remodeling and Myocardial Performance With Modified Task Force Criteria in Adolescents With Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

Background: The usefulness of echocardiographic indices, including those already used by modified Task Force Criteria (mTFC), and others such as strain imaging, to identify arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in adolescence is not well established. Methods: Echocardiograms from 120 adolescents investigated for ARVC (13±4 years) were retrospectively analyzed. According to the mTFC, patients were classified into definite (n=38), borderline (n=39), or possible (n=43) ARVC. Results were compared with 35 healthy controls. mTFC echocardiographic parameters were analyzed, as well as comprehensive right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular assessment of function including parameters not included in mTFC such as pulsed-wave tissue Doppler and RV 2-dimensional speckle strain. Results: mTFC parameters indexed for body surface area were significantly more abnormal in patients with possible, borderline, or definite ARVC compared with controls for parasternal long-axis view of the RV outflow tract. ...