RWMA
Also written as: RWMA — Regional Wall Motion Abnormality
Abnormal contraction pattern in specific myocardial segments, typically indicating coronary artery disease.
Full Definition
RWMA (Regional Wall Motion Abnormality) refers to localized impairment of myocardial contraction affecting specific segments of the left ventricle, as opposed to global dysfunction. RWMAs are typically caused by coronary artery disease, with the pattern of abnormality corresponding to specific coronary territories. The severity is graded as hypokinesis (reduced motion), akinesis (absent motion), or dyskinesis (paradoxical motion). RWMAs can be assessed at rest or during stress testing to identify inducible ischemia. The presence and extent of RWMAs help determine the culprit vessel and guide revascularization decisions.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as RWMA in reports; plural form is RWMAs.
In Context
- "Stress echocardiography revealed inducible RWMA in the LAD territory at peak dobutamine." — Stress test report
- "The patient's RWMA pattern suggests multivessel coronary artery disease." — Clinical assessment