Echocardiographic and Hemodynamic Predictors of Survival in Precapillary Pulmonary Hypertension: Seven-Year Follow-Up.

Background: In this study, we looked at the prognostic value of echocardiographic and hemodynamic measures in a large cohort of patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension before and after initiation of treatment.

Methods And Results: Data were collected prospectively in a cohort of consecutive patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension referred between 2002 and 2011. A range of clinical and echocardiographic variables were collected and stored on a database to assess predictors of survival.

Strain balance of papillary muscles as a prerequisite for successful mitral valve repair in patients with mitral valve prolapse due to fibroelastic deficiency.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the papillary muscle strain as a contributor to recurrent mitral regurgitation (MR) after mitral valve repair for fibroelastic deficiency.

Methods And Results: Sixty-four patients with isolated posterior mitral valve prolapse and severe MR referred for surgery were prospectively recruited between 2008 and 2012. Two- and three-dimensional echocardiography and speckle tracking were performed in all patients.

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction detected by speckle tracking in hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Introduction: The spectrum of hypertensive heart disease is wide, and can include left ventricular dysfunction. The development of echocardiographic parameters to improve patient stratification and to identify early adverse changes could be clinically useful. Aim To identify subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in hypertensive subjects with preserved ejection fraction (>55%), identified by global parameters of myocardial strain on speckle tracking imaging.

The association between tricuspid regurgitation velocity and 5-year survival in a North West London population of patients with sickle cell disease in the United Kingdom.

Raised tricuspid regurgitant velocity (TRV) occurs in approximately 30% of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), and has been shown to be an independent risk factor for death. TRV was assessed in 164 SCD patients who were subsequently followed up for survival. Raised pulmonary pressures were defined as a TRV jet ≥2.

Mitral valve repair results in better right ventricular remodelling than valve replacement for degenerative mitral regurgitation: a three-dimensional echocardiographic study.

Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) remodelling may be an important determinant of clinical outcome in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery for mitral regurgitation. In the present study we hypothesised that, compared to valve replacement, mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation may result in better RV remodelling, as assessed by real-time, three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE).

Methods: Forty unselected patients with degenerative mitral valve regurgitation were recruited prospectively.

Validation of the isovolumetric relaxation time for the estimation of pulmonary systolic arterial blood pressure in chronic pulmonary hypertension.

Aims: Transthoracic echocardiography is a useful technique for non-invasive detection of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP). Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) measured by Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) is a sensitive measurement of changes in pulmonary vasculature. Our aim was to validate IVRT in the echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients.

The association of clinical outcome with right atrial and ventricular remodelling in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: study with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

Aims: Right atrial (RA) dilatation may be important for patients' outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal RA and right ventricular (RV) remodelling in PAH patients using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and their relation to clinical outcome.

Methods And Results: Sixty-two consecutive PAH patients were studied and compared with a control group of 30 healthy volunteers.

Right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary hypertension; the value of myocardial performance index measured by tissue Doppler imaging.

Aims: Myocardial performance index (MPI) measured by conventional Doppler is routinely used to assess right ventricular (RV) systolic function in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Our aim was to determine whether MPI measured by Doppler tissue imaging (tMPI) is effective in assessing RV function in these patients.

Methods And Results: Retrospectively, we have studied 196 patients with chronic PH [pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) 81 +/- 40 mmHg] and 37 healthy volunteers (PASP of 27 +/- 7 mmHg).