Stress Doppler echocardiography for early detection of systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-APAH) is the leading cause of death. The objective of this prospective screening study was to analyse sensitivity and specificity of stress Doppler echocardiography (SDE) in detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods

Pulmonary artery pressures and further parameters of PH were assessed by echocardiography and right heart catheterisation (RHC) at rest and during exercise in patients with SSc. Investigators of RHC were blinded to the results of non-invasive measurements.

Results

Of 76 patients with SSc (64 were female and mean age was 58±14 years), 22 (29 %) had manifest PH confirmed by RHC: four had concomitant left heart diseases, three had lung diseases, and 15

SUBMITTER: Nagel C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4504224 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature