Screening and diagnostic modalities for connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a frequent complication in connective tissue diseases (CTD), especially in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and is associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality. We undertook a systematic review for the screening tests for CTD-PAH.

Methods

A systematic literature search of PAH in CTD was performed in available databases through June 2012. Our evaluation of diagnostic tests was focused on patients with PAH confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC).

Results

The search resulted in 2805 titles and 838 abstracts. Our final inclusion encompassed 22 articles-six of which were case-control studies and 16 were cohort studies. Twelve studies assessed the tricuspid regurgitation velocity (VTR) or equivalent right ventri

SUBMITTER: Gladue H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3882308 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature