[Invasive diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and its effects on the right heart]

When pulmonary hypertension (HPT) is suspected invasive diagnosis provides final diagnosis, establishes the most important parameters for making a prognosis and identifies resulting abnormalities of the right and left ventricles. Cardiac catheterization gives data on cardiac function and thus additional information on the limits of physical capacity and prognostic assessment. Invasive diagnosis thus plays a key role, but clearly is not part of primary diagnosis, which in addition to clinical examination emphasizes Doppler echocardiography as a valid screening method. Noninvasive examinations are preferred for follow-up.