Background: This study aimed to identify the clinical predictors of the degree of right ventricular (RV) myocardial fibrosis in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with special focus on the RV pressure load.
Methods and results: From April 2004 to March 2017, 30 patients with repaired TOF underwent pulmonary valve replacement and concomitant RV myocardial biopsy. The stroke volume ratio (RV stroke volume/left ventricular stroke volume), RV end-diastolic volume index, and right-to-left ventricular systolic pressure ratio were evaluated with respect to their prognostic value for the degree of RV myocardial fibrosis. Significant positive linear correlations were detected between the stroke volume ratio and the degree of RV myocardial fibrosis (P=0.003, r=0.52). Patients with a right-to-left ventricular systolic pressure ratio >0.45 showed a significantly greater degree of RV myocardial fibrosis under an equivalent stroke volume ratio.
Conclusions: Under conditions of RV volume overload, a right-to-left ventricular systolic pressure ratio >0.45 was a predisposing factor for progression of RV myocardial fibrosis in patients with repaired TOF.
Keywords: Repaired tetralogy of Fallot; Right ventricular myocardial fibrosis; Right ventricular pressure.