Objectives Left ventricular (LV) function is influenced by right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, so called ventricular interdependence, but the changes of LV function in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) were poorly evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of acute RV dysfunction on LV function according to the severity of acute PTE. Methods A total of 86 patients with acute PTE were divided into two groups; thrombolysis group (group I, n=50, 64.1짹14.6 years, 31 females) versus anticoagulation group (group II, n=36, 63.7짹13.3 years, 20 females). Echocardiographic parameters of LV function were analyzed between the groups. Results The results were summarized in table. LV end-diastolic dimension was significantly decreased in group I than in group II. The ratio of early diastolic inflow and annular velocity of mitral valve (E/E`), and deceleration time (DT) was significantly decreased in group I than in group II. Eccentricity index during diastole and systole were significantly in group I than in group II. However, LV ejection fraction was not different between the groups. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrated that LV function, especially in diastolic function, is significantly affected by the severity of acute RV dysfunction in patients with acute PTE. Decreased LV filling pressure should be considered and corrected in the treatment of acute massive or sub-massive PTE.

	Group I	Group II	P value
LV end-diastolic dimension (mm)	41.4짹6.8	46.3짹6.8	0.008
LV end-systolic dimension (mm)	26.9짹5.3	29.5짹6.3	0.084
LV ejection fraction (%)	64.7짹8.0	64.5짹10.5	0.947
E/A	0.71짹0.21	0.87짹0.41	0.112
DT (msec)	189.6짹50.8	253.6짹103.6	0.035
E/E`	6.6짹4.9	11.9짹4.0	0.003
Eccentricity index (systole)	1.29짹0.36	1.11짹0.20	0.028
Eccentricity index (diastole)	1.21짹0.22	1.04짹0.20	0.002