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Echocardiography in Pulmonary Hypertension

Core IM

Despite decades of research and increasing treatment options for patients with various types of pulmonary hypertension, there remains a diagnosis delay on the order of 1-3 years. One challenge for the generalist remains interpreting an echocardiogram, recognizing signs suggestive of pulmonary hypertension, and placing timely referrals to experts in the field.  In this episode of Core IM, the team will discuss this challenge and others to offer a better understanding the uses and limitations of the estimated pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) on echocardiogram, when to suspect pulmonary hypertension due to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, and when it is indicated to refer a patient to a pulmonary hypertension expert fur further evaluation and management.  Please join us for Echocardiography in Pulmonary Hypertension.

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Up to 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™ and MOC Points
Expires April 06, 2025   active

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Core IM

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Pearl 1: Interpreting the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) on echo

  • The PASP is an estimate based on the tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV).
    • Using the , the mean pressure difference from the RV to the RA is proportional to 4 x (TRV)2.
    • Estimating a PASP requires identifying the TRV on the echo, which can be difficult in patients where getting good echo windows is challenging.
  • When compared to the PASP measured on right heart catheterization, the gold standard, echo estimated PASP has been shown to have at most a , though , echocardiography over- or under-estimates the PASP by at least compared to right heart catheterization measurements.
  • The echo estimated PASP gives us a sense of the degree of pulmonary hypertension, but not the underlying etiology.
  • When interpreting a PASP remember other clinical variables during acute illness that may alter results:
    •    can lead to pulmonary vasoconstriction, increasing PASP
    •    can lead to increased tricuspid regurgitation, increasing PASP
    •  Acute anemia can increase cardiac output, increasing PASP

Chronic anemia can cause PH and remodeling of the vasculature overtime.

Pearl 2: Physiologic framework for pulmonary hypertension

  • Abnormalities in any of the following three key hemodynamic components can cause elevated pulmonary artery pressures.
    •  Increased resistance across the pulmonary vascular system due to primary pulmonary vascular disease:
      • Pulmonary arteriole vasculopathy (PAH)
      • Chronic lung disease or chronic hypoxemia
      • Alteration of the pulmonary vascular bed (ILD, CTEPH, COPD)
    • Elevated left-sided filling pressures due to left heart disease:
      • Left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction
      • Mitral or aortic valve disease
    •  Increased flow across the pulmonary vascular system:
      • Anemia
      • Low systemic vascular resistance (SVR) state in Cirrhosis
  • Patients will not always fit nicely into only one of these buckets.
    • Cirrhosis may cause increased flow from a low SVR state, though in cirrhosis is due to increased resistance in the pulmonary vascular system.

Pearl 3: Using echo to characterize pulmonary hypertension due to high left-sided filling pressures

  • Clear echocardiographic clues of left-sided heart disease include systolic dysfunction, severe aortic stenosis, or mitral valve disease.
  • Several elements on an echo can be signs of left-sided that may signal left heart disease:
    • Increased left atrial size
    • Increased left heart filling pressures with elevated
    • The can be used as a tool to identify diastolic dysfunction in patients with unexplained dyspnea.

 Pearl 4: Evaluating pulmonary hypertension due to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance

  • If there is no clear evidence of left-sided heart disease, then the elevated PASP may be due to increased resistance (or less commonly increased flow).
    • Evidence on septal flattening during systole on an echo may signal increased pulmonary vascular resistance.
  • These patients warrant referral to a pulmonary hypertension expert.
  • While waiting for the referral, you can start a basic initial work-up:
    • Evaluate for PAH
      • Ask about autoimmune history, family history, a thorough review of symptoms
      • Ask about drug/toxin exposures, specifically
    • Evaluate for chronic lung disease or chronic hypoxemia
      • Look for prior PFTs or CT scans of the chest
      • Start with a chest x-ray
      • Order a sleep study
    •  CTEPH evaluation requires a VQ scan. Make sure you are ordering this at a location where these are commonly done, or wait for the pulmonary hypertension expert to order this.

Contributors

Hannah Robertson, MD – host

Adam Rodman, MD, FACP - host

Noah Schoenberg, MD - guest

Shreya Trivedi, MD, ACP Member - host

Anjali Vaidya, MD - guest

Consultant: Janssen, Bayer Healthcare, United Therapeutics

Reviewers

Cyrus Kholdani, MD

Timothy Fernandes, MD, MPH

Consultant: Actelion, Bayer Healthcare

Those named above, unless otherwise indicated, have no relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.  All relevant relationships have been mitigated.

Release Date:  April 6, 2022

Expiration Date: April 6, 2025

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