Key result
Echo evaluation of RV function in PH requires comprehensive clinical context to avoid inaccuracies.
Why the study?
Accurate assessment of RV physiology in PH is challenging due to complex RV structure and remodeling, alongside discrepancies between echocardiography and invasive catheterization.
What are the key echocardiographic parameters for evaluating the right ventricle in patients with pulmonary hypertension?
What are the key echocardiographic parameters for evaluating the right ventricle in patients with pulmonary hypertension?
This review highlights the central role of echocardiography in evaluating right ventricular remodeling, RV-PA coupling, and strain in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Echocardiography aids RV evaluation in PH only with full clinical integration; leaves open prospective validation of strain parameters.
To diagnose pulmonary hypertension (PH) and assess its severity, accurate measurement of pulmonary artery (PA) pressure is crucial. However, there can be significant discrepancies between echocardiography (Echo) and invasive catheterization. The right ventricle (RV) has a complex structure, and its remodeling in PH is diverse, making it challenging to evaluate RV physiology with a single imaging modality. While right heart catheterization is the gold standard, its practicality in clinical settings is limited. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is valuable for RV evaluation, with 4-dimensional flow MRI showing promise, yet accessibility remains a concern. Thus, in PH patient management, Echo plays a central role as a practical decision-making tool. This review aims to elucidate Echo parameters in PH patients, highlighting differences in PA systolic pressure measurements, RV-PA coupling, RV remodeling patterns crucial for understanding PH progression, and clinical evidence regarding RV strain. Additionally, it aims to introduce new Echo parameters that help understand RV in PH.
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Kim et al. (2025) conducted a review in Pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiography vs. Right heart catheterization (invasive) was evaluated. Echocardiography is a central tool for evaluating right ventricular function in pulmonary hypertension, but parameters must be interpreted within the comprehensive clinical context to avoid inaccuracies.
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