Cited 2 times since 2018 (0.3 per year) source: EuropePMC International journal of cardiology, Volume 273, 24 4 2018, Pages 203-206 ECG derived ventricular gradient exceeds echocardiography in the early detection of pulmonary hypertension in scleroderma patients. Meijer FMM, Kies P, Jongbloed MRM, van Wijngaarden SE, Swenne CA, Man S, Schalij MJ, de Vries-Bouwstra JK, Vliegen HW
Background
Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are at risk for developing pulmonary hypertension (PH) which is a major cause of death in this population. Echocardiographic (TTE) derived pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) can be unreliable for the early detection of PH. Previous studies demonstrate that the ECG derived ventricular gradient optimized for right ventricular pressure overload (VG-RVPO) can detect PH in a heterogeneous population suspected of PH. The aim of this study is to assess the use of the VG-RVPO as a screening and monitoring instrument of early PH in SSc patients.
Methods
Serial ECGs and TTEs from twenty-seven SSc patients who underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) were retrospectively analyzed. The changes in PAP and VG-RVPO over time were studied in patients with and without diagnosed PH.
Results
Twenty-four patients (52.5% female, mean age 58.4 years SD 14.3) were studied. In eleven patients PH was confirmed with RHC. In these patients VG-RVPO was significantly higher -8 ± 19 than in patients without PH -23 ± 10 mV·ms, (P < 0.05). In addition, in PH patients the VG-RVPO increased over time in contrast to patients without PH (P < 0.01). The VG was more sensitive to detect disease progression in earlier stages of disease as compared to echocardiographic derived PAP.
Conclusions
The VG-RVPO is a sensitive, non-invasive and cost effective tool for early detection of PH in SSc patients. Serial measurements indicate that the VG-RVPO can be used as a follow-up instrument and outperforms TTE to detect early changes in right ventricular pressure over time.
