Comparison between echocardiography and computerized tomography pulmonary angiography in detection of pulmonary hypertension in advanced chronic lung diseases

To compare between echocardiography and CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in the detection of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic advanced lung diseases.

45 pateints with diagnosis of chronic advanced lung diseases were recuited in the sudy. Data of all patients were collected including patients’ demographic characteristics, and the results of investigations which were performed for each patient which includes echocardiography and computerized tomography pulmonary angiography.

mean age of patients 53.4 ± 8.3 years, with two thirds of patients aged >50 years. Males were relatively dominant than females; 24 (53.3%) vs. 21 (46.7%) respectively. Majority of the cases (75.6%) were smokers, 13 cases (28.9%) were employed. 71.1% of the cases had COPD. The mean pulmonary artery diameter of all cases was 26.3 ± 3.8 mm. The main pulmonary artery (MPA) to aorta (AO) ratio was elevate > 1: 1 in 48.9% of cases. Right ventricle wall thickness ≥ 4 mm in 16 cases (35.6%).

This study has shown that although CT and echocardiographic measurements are both moderately strong correlates of mPAP in patients with a spectrum of underlying disorders, using these tests in combination is considerably more powerful in determining increased pulmonary arterial pressure than either test in isolation.