Main pulmonary arterial distensibility: different presentation between chronic pulmonary hypertension and acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: The main pulmonary arterial (PA) distensibility in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is uncertain.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 45 patients with echocardiographic signs of PH and without imaging evidence of PE, and another 45 who were found by multidetector-row computed tomography to have PE. Fifty normal patients served as a control group.

Myocardial tissue Doppler-based indexes to distinguish right ventricular volume overload from right ventricular pressure overload.

The objective of this study was to develop tissue Doppler parameters that could be used to differentiate right ventricular (RV) volume overload from RV pressure overload. The RV-pressure-overload group consisted of 40 patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, and the RV-volume-overload group consisted of 40 patients who had an atrial septal defect without evidence of right-to-left shunt, significant pulmonary hypertension, or Eisenmenger's complex. Another 40 healthy subjects were enrolled and served as a control group.

Major events in uremic patients: insight from parameters derived by flow propagation velocity.

Background: The parameters derived by flow propagation velocity (FPV) of early-diastolic mitral inflow have been proved to be associated with cardiovascular risk. This study was undertaken to analyze the prognosis of uremic patients by FPV.

Methods: A total of 100 uremic patients were enrolled.

Pulmonary hypertension and left heart function: insights from tissue Doppler imaging and myocardial performance index.

Background: As a consequence of a leftward shift of the interventricular septum and of pericardial restraint, related to the degree RV dilatation, left heart function would be influenced after pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 70 patients with pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) more than 30 mmHg: 40 patients with PASP between 30 and 60 mmHg (Group 2), 30 patients with PASP more than 60 mmHg (Group 3). Another 70 patients with normal heart performance and PASP less than 30 mmHg served as the control group (Group 1).

Right heart function and scleroderma: insights from tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of echocardiographic parameters as predictors of rehospitalization in scleroderma patients.

Methods: Echocardiographic studies were conducted in 38 patients with systolic scleroderma (SSc) to assess cardiopulmonary function. Forty-five age-matched volunteers without any sign of heart failure served as the control group.

Usefulness of pulmonary arterial flow discordance to identify pulmonary embolism.

The present study was undertaken to determine the sensitivity and specificity of echocardiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). The study consisted of 2 stages. First, 600 patients were enrolled to measure bilateral pulmonary blood flow by echocardiography.

Usefulness of regional myocardial performance index to diagnose pulmonary embolism in patients with echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension.

In this study, myocardial performance index (MPI) was used to identify pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension. One hundred patients with echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension were enrolled in this study after informed consent was obtained. All patients underwent multidetector-row computed tomography of the chest, and PE was found in 50 patients.

Usefulness of tissue Doppler parameters for identifying pulmonary embolism in patients with signs of pulmonary hypertension.

The objective of this study was to use tissue Doppler parameters to identify pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension. One hundred fifty patients with echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension were enrolled, 50 of whom had PE on multidetector row computed tomography of the chest. Another 150 patients without cardiopulmonary distress or echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension served as a control group.

Pulmonary embolism and right heart function: insights from myocardial Doppler tissue imaging.

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) has significant impact in right heart function. We assess the difference of Doppler tissue parameters among control subjects, patients with pulmonary hypertension, and patients with acute PE. After optimal treatment, the changes of Doppler tissue parameters in patients with PE were assessed.

Right heart function in scleroderma: insights from myocardial Doppler tissue imaging.

To use Doppler tissue imaging to evaluate heart function and to predict rehospitalization rate in progressive systemic sclerosis, we studied 40 patients (limited in 24 patients, diffuse in 16 patients) with chest roentgenography, pulmonary function test, routine echocardiography, and myocardial Doppler tissue. Another 45 volunteers without any sign of heart failure served as the control group. Significant difference of echocardiographic parameters was found in peak transmitral early diastolic velocity, right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) (RVEF), pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and Doppler tissue parameters of the RV and septum (peak transmitral early diastolic velocity, P = .