Detection Of Pulmonary Hypertension In Systemic Sclerosis By Exercise Echocardiography.

s S217 Eur J Echocardiography Abstracts Supplement, December 2006 Results: The RV/RAg in BLLD was 38±24 mm Hg (range 18 to 147 mm Hg), the SP RV/RAg was 35±25 mm Hg (range 12 to 137 mm Hg) p<0.001 vs BLLD RV/RAg; the PW RV/RAg was 62±30 mm Hg (range 28 to 177 mm Hg) p<0.0001 vs SP RV//Rag; the RLLD RV/Rag was 50±29 mm Hg p< 0.001 vs PW. The stress echocardiography results in MS pts were used guide therapeutic decision as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Right heart catheterization confirmed pulmonary hypertension in 5 of 9 pts with normal BLLD RV/RAg but elevated PW RV/RAg. Conclusions: 1. Echocardiography during treadmill exercise testing was feasible in a great percentage of pts (93%). 2. The RV/RAg decreases considerably in response to the standing position. 3. The RV/Rag rises considerably with exercise in a vast array of patients and is significantly higher at peak workload than in the recovery period. 4. The authors think that this method can be a valuable tool in patient assessment, symptoms correlation and therapeutic guidance of heart disease patients with tricuspid regurgitation.