Melduni, Rowlens M.

Background— Previous studies have demonstrated that mitral annulus early diastolic (e′) velocity is increased in constrictive pericarditis (CP) and reduced in restrictive cardiomyopathy. However, those studies did not comprehensively evaluate mitral and tricuspid annular velocities before and after pericardiectomy. Methods and Results— We performed comprehensive echocardiography before and after pericardiectomy in 99 patients with CP, 52 with primary (idiopathic or postpericarditis etiology) and 47 with secondary CP (due to surgery or radiation). Overall, mean±SD mitral medial, mitral lateral, and tricuspid lateral e′ velocities were 12.2±4.2, 10.0±5.4, and 11.6±3.5 cm/s, respectively; annular late diastolic velocities were 10.3±4.3, 12.2±4.9, and 11.7±5.4 cm/s, respectively; and annular systolic (s′) velocities were 7.8±2.8, 8.2±2.1, and 11.2±3.8 cm/s, respectively. Medial e′ was equal to or greater than mitral lateral e′ in 74% of analyzable cases. With the exception of tricuspid s′, there were significant differences in all s′ and e′velocities between primary and secondary CP before pericardiectomy. After pericardiectomy, all annular velocities decreased significantly ( P <0.02 for all comparisons). The reduction in medial e′ velocity was greater than that of mitral lateral e′ velocity ( P <0.0001 and P =0.0004, respectively), and the mitral lateral/medial e′ ratio normalized ( P =0.0002). Conclusions— The mitral lateral/medial e′ ratio is reversed in three fourths of patients with CP. All annular velocities are lower in secondary compared to primary CP before pericardiectomy. After pericardiectomy, there is reduction of all annular velocities and normalization of the mitral lateral/medial e′ ratio.