Imaging in pulmonary hypertension: Focus on the role of echocardiography

SummaryPatients with pulmonary hypertension must be evaluated using a multimodality approach to ensure a correct diagnosis and basal evaluation as well as a prognostic assessment. Beyond the assessment of pulmonary pressures, the echocardiographical examination allows the evaluation of right ventricular adaptation to elevated afterload. Numbers of variables are commonly used in the assessment of the pulmonary hypertension patient in order to detect changes in right heart geometry, right-to-left interaction and right ventricular dysfunction. Whereas an isolated change in one echocardiographical variable is not meaningful, multiple echocardiographical variable modifications together provide accurate information. In this review, we will link pulmonary hypertension pathophysiological changes with echocardiographical indices and describe the clinical implications of echocardiographical findings

0358: Diuretic treatment versus fluid expansion in acute normotensive pulmonary embolism

BackgroundIn submassive pulmonary embolism (PE), when a right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (RVD) is present, the benefit of fluid expansion (FE) is questionable. The Franck-Starling law suggests that the reduction of the RV overload may enhances the RV systolic function.PurposeThe aim of our study was to compare the effects of a diuretic treatment (DT) versus FE in patients hospitalized for normotensive PE with RVD.MethodsWe performed a prospective study. Consecutive patients hospitalized for normotensive PE were treated with diuretic (40mg IV furosemide at admission) or FE (500cc of sodium chloride infusion during four hours at admission). The primary endpoint was the timing for normalization of BNP and troponin Ic values. The secondary endpoints were variations of clinical and RV echographic parameters.ResultsForty five patients were included. Timing for Troponin and BNP normalization was 60,7±28 hours in the DT versus 93,2±42 hours in the FE group (figure 1, p=0.02). Normalization of RV dilatation took 91,7±14,2 hours in the DT group versus 108,4±17,5 hours in the FE group (p=0.01). Normalization of the RVD took 81,2±18 hours in the DT group versus 94,9±13,1 hours in the FE group (p=0.03).ConclusionIn the early management of normotensive PE with RVD, DT may be superior to FE in order to improve the time to normalization of biological and echocardiographic markers.Abstract 0358 – Figure

Speckle-tracking imaging in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome

SummaryBackgroundAdults with Eisenmenger syndrome have a survival advantage over those with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Improved survival may result from preservation of right ventricular (RV) function.AimsTo assess left ventricular (LV) and RV remodelling in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome compared to a control population, using speckle-tracking imaging.MethodsAdults with Eisenmenger syndrome and healthy controls were enrolled into this prospective two-centre study. Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome with low acoustic windows, irregular heart rhythm or complex congenital heart disease were excluded. Clinical assessment, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), 6-minute walk test and echocardiography (including dedicated views to perform offline two-dimensional-speckle-tracking analysis) were performed on inclusion.ResultsOur patient population (n=37; mean age 42.3±17years) was mostly composed of patients with ventricular septal defect (37.8%) or atrial septal defect (35.1%). Compared with the control population (n=30), patients with Eisenmenger syndrome had reduced global LV longitudinal strain (–17.4±3.5 vs. –22.4±2.3; P<0.001), RV free-wall longitudinal strain (–15.0±4.7 vs. –29.9±6.8; P<0.001) and RV transverse strain (25.8±25.0 vs. 44.5±15.1; P<0.001). Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome also more frequently presented a predominant apical longitudinal and transverse strain profile. Among patients with Eisenmenger syndrome, those with a post-tricuspid shunt presented with reduced global LV longitudinal strain but increased RV transverse strain, compared to patients with pre-tricuspid shunt.ConclusionPatients with Eisenmenger syndrome had impaired longitudinal RV and LV strain, but present a relatively important apical deformation. RV and LV remodelling, as assessed by speckle-tracking imaging, differ between patients with pre- and post-tricuspid shunt

0337: Prognostic value of reflux of contrast into the inferior vena cava or hepatic veins in pulmonary embolism

BackgroundComputed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is routinely used to diagnose pulmonary embolism (PE). Reflux of contrast medium into the inferior vena cava or hepatic veins (IVC) on CTPA is a simple sign that could help for PE risk stratification. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate prognosis significance of contrast reflux into IVC in acute PE.Methods and results141 consecutive patients with acute PE confirmed by CTPA were prospectively included between March 2010 and February 2013. Degree of reflux into the IVC and the hepatic veins was graded from 1 (none) to 6 (severe) by 2 independent observers, blinded to each other. The presence of reflux in IVC was compared with clinical parameters used in the ESC guidelines for PE risk stratification: electrocardiographic signs, Troponine I, BNP and right ventricular dilatation (RV/ LV>0,9) or dysfunction (TAPSE < 17mm, S’<10cm/s) by echocardiography. Composite endpoint was 30-days mortality or clinical deterioration requiring treatment escalation (catecholamine infusion, thrombolytic treatment or cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The composite end-point was observed in 5% of patients with a 30-day mortality rate of 2.1%. Heart rate >110 bpm (OR 5.6, 1.03-30), atrial fibrillation (OR 6.3, 1.05-37.7), negative anterior T waves (OR 6.1, 1.3-29.1), elevated Troponin Ic (OR 5.4, 1.1-25.8), elevated BNP (OR 11.5, 1.3-98.2), right ventricular dysfunction (OR 5.3, 1.1-25.1) were predictors of death or clinical deterioration. Contrast reflux into IVC from grade 4 to 6 was observed in 17% of patients. Interobserver agreement was excellent (Concordance correlation coefficient 0.91). Grade 4 reflux or greater was a strong predictor of events (OR 15.1, 2.8-83.7) and had a 86% specificity and 71% sensitivity to predict adverse outcomes (AUC 0.88).ConclusionA grade 4 or higher contrast reflux into the IVC is a simple and frequent CTPA sign, highly predictive of adverse outcomes in PE patients