The right ventricle in “left-sided” cardiomyopathies: the dark side of the moon

The right ventricle (RV) has long been regarded as the forgotten and neglected cardiac chamber and it has been overshadowed by the left ventricle (LV). However, in the last decades, important advances in non-invasive cardiac imaging, from myocardial deformation imaging to cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), have overcome the challenges imposed by the complex anatomy of the right heart, leading to a deep understanding of cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology. The importance of the RV in different cardiac disease is now unquestionable and the current evidence emphasizes the forgotten interdependent relationship between the right and the left heart and the pivotal role of RV dysfunction in determining functional performance and outcomes in many cardiac disorders and particularly in cardiomyopathies. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence about the diagnostic and prognostic value of the right heart in the “left-sided” cardiomyopathies, highlighting the relevance to assess RV size and function by multimodality imaging techniques in order to obtain useful information for a proper diagnostic workup and for the prognosis. © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.