Cited 2 times since 2015 (0.2 per year) source: EuropePMC Journal of electrocardiology, Volume 49, Issue 1, 26 4 2015, Pages 60-68 Electrocardiographic detection of pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic sclerosis using the ventricular gradient. Couperus LE, Vliegen HW, Henkens IR, Maan AC, Treskes RW, de Vries JK, Schouffoer AA, Swenne CA, Schalij MJ, Scherptong RW
Background
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. The current study assessed the ability of the ECG-derived ventricular gradient (VG-RVPO) to detect PH and predict all-cause mortality in PH patients with subtypes of SSc differing in the extent of multi-organ involvement.
Methods
ECGs were obtained from 196 patients with limited and 77 patients with diffuse SSc included from our screening programme on cardiac complications. The association of the VG-RVPO with (1) the presence of PH, (2) conventional screening parameters and (3) survival in PH patients was assessed.
Results
In limited SSc patients an elevated VG-RVPO corresponded with the presence of PH (-5±12 mV.ms vs -22±16 mV.ms, P<0.01), correlated significantly with conventional screening parameters and had a better diagnostic performance than the presence of a right heart axis (AUC 0.81 vs 0.60; P=0.04). These differences were not observed in patients with diffuse SSc. An elevated VG-RVPO was associated with decreased survival in all SSc patients with PH (3 year survival 30% vs 64%, P=0.02).
Conclusion
An elevated VG-RVPO is associated with PH in limited SSc patients and with decreased survival in all SSc patients with PH.
