Background: The myocardial performance index (Tei index) is an echocardiographic index of combined systolic and diastolic functions. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its biologically inactive fragment N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-pro-BNP) are secreted by the heart in response to myocardial stretch. In this study, we investigated Tei index and NT-pro-BNP levels in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome before and after radiofrequency catheter ablation therapy (RFCA).
Methods: Thirty patients (19 males, 11 females, aged 35.5 +/- 14.4 years) with WPW syndrome were enrolled in this study. Echocardiographic examination was performed before and 24 hours after RFCA. Tei index was calculated using Doppler echocardiography. Blood samples were taken before and 24 hours after RFCA to detect levels of NT-pro-BNP.
Results: Although isovolumic contraction time (IVCT) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) did not change, aortic ejection time (ET) was decreased after RFCA (276 +/- 22 ms vs 254 +/- 30 ms, P < 0.01). So Tei index was significantly higher in postablation period (0.36 +/- 0.11 vs 0.42 +/- 0.21, P < 0.05). NT-pro-BNP levels did not change significantly after RFCA.
Conclusions: We demonstrated that restoration of normal atrioventricular conduction by RFCA, leads to increase in Tei index but does not effect plasma NT-pro-BNP levels.