Right Ventricle Chamber of Young Trained Athletes: Morphology and Function

PURPOSE The study of the right ventricular (RV) chamber has been recently improved by use of the 3D method. In young asymptomatic trained athletes, RV is not routinely investigated if not in suspected disease. This study is designed to test if the 3D method compared to 2D, adds information to study of RV morphology and function, in the early stages of myocardial remodeling of a group of young athletes. METHODS The RV chamber function was assessed in 25 young trained athletes (20 soccer and 5 basketball) aged 20±3 yrs and compared to 20 sedentary controls by 2D-AC and 3D-RV methods (TomTec), measuring RV diastolic (RVDV) and systolic (RVSV) volumes or ejection fraction (EF). RESULTS 3D RV volumes were slightly higher in athletes than the 2D volumes in presence of lower EF values, but not significantly higher than in sedentary. Significant differences were conversely found comparing 3D systolic and diastolic RV volumes and 2D-AC volumes within each group with higher values in athletes (RVDV: P=0.001 for athletes and P<0.001 for sedentary, and RVSV: P<0.04 for athletes and P<0.001 for sedentary). CONCLUSION Although the found EF values were substantially similar, the morphological assessment of the initial modifications of this chamber of the young "athlete's heart", results seem to be more accurate using the 3D method than 2D. The clinical implication of this aspect could be of interest in case of difficulty in drawing a clear diagnosis of any RV chamber disease in young athletes.