Value of conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography in the noninvasive measurement of right atrial pressure.

Background: Evaluation of right atrial pressure (RAP) provides useful diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic information.

Aim: To assess the utility of several conventional and tissue Doppler parameters in the estimation of RAP.

Methods: Among 50 consecutive patients (median age: 50 years; all in sinus rhythm), invasively measured RAP was simultaneously correlated with pulsed Doppler of tricuspid inflow (peak E and A velocities, E-wave deceleration time) and pulsed tissue Doppler of lateral tricuspid annulus (peak E' and A' velocities, isovolumic relaxation time [IVRT], acceleration time and rate of E'-wave, deceleration time and rate of E'-wave).