Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Assessment of Right Ventricular Structure and Function in Mouse Model of Pulmonary Artery Constriction by Transthoracic Echocardiography
10:33

Assessment of Right Ventricular Structure and Function in Mouse Model of Pulmonary Artery Constriction by Transthoracic Echocardiography

Published on: February 3, 2014

28.8K

Echocardiography in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension: early study on assessing disease severity and

Mark-Jan Ploegstra1, Marcus T R Roofthooft2, Johannes M Douwes1

  • 1From the Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Dutch National Referral Center for Children with Pulmonary Hypertension, Beatrix Children's Hospital (M.-J.P., M.T.R.R., J.M.D., B.B., N.J.E., D.v.d.W., R.M.F.B) and Department of Epidemiology (H.L.H), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Circulation. Cardiovascular Imaging
|January 2, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Echocardiography can assess disease severity and predict outcomes in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Key echocardiographic measures of both right and left heart function correlate with disease severity and survival in children with PAH.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Pulmonary Hypertension Research

Background:

  • The prognostic value of echocardiography in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) requires further definition.
  • Current understanding of echocardiography's role in assessing pediatric PAH severity and outcomes is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlations between echocardiographic findings and disease severity in pediatric PAH.
  • To determine the relationship between echocardiographic parameters and patient outcomes in pediatric PAH.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational study of 43 children with idiopathic/hereditary PAH or PAH associated with congenital heart disease.
  • Echocardiographic assessment included 2D and Doppler measures of cardiac structure and function.
  • Correlations were analyzed between echocardiographic variables, disease severity markers (WHO-FC, NT-proBNP, hemodynamics), and lung-transplantation-free survival.

Main Results:

  • Right atrial and ventricular dimensions correlated with WHO-FC and hemodynamics.
  • Left ventricular dimensions were associated with hemodynamics and survival.
  • Right-to-left ventricular dimension ratio, right ventricular ejection time, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion all showed significant correlations with disease severity and/or survival.

Conclusions:

  • Echocardiographic characteristics of both right and left heart chambers are valuable indicators of disease severity and prognosis in pediatric PAH.
  • Echocardiography shows potential as a tool to guide management strategies for children diagnosed with PAH.
  • These findings support the use of echocardiography for monitoring disease progression and predicting outcomes in pediatric PAH patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
echocardiographyoutcome measurespediatricspulmonary hypertension

More Related Videos

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography09:31

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography

Published on: January 27, 2023

1.9K
Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery08:17

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery

Published on: February 20, 2017

15.2K

Related Concept Videos

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
1.2K
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography01:20

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography

Echocardiography plays a role in assessing cardiac health and detecting heart conditions, with various types providing critical insights for diagnosis and treatment.
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for...
894
Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests01:22

Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Aortic valve regurgitation (AR) occurs when the aortic valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward from the aorta into the left ventricle. This backflow can result in two distinct clinical presentations: acute and chronic AR, each characterized by its own set of symptoms and physical findings.Acute Aortic RegurgitationAcute AR presents with a sudden onset of severe symptoms. Patients typically experience profound dyspnea (shortness of breath), chest pain, and signs of left...
1.0K
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography01:17

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography

Cardiac imaging studies encompass a wide range of noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques designed to visualize the heart's structure and function in detail. One such technique is echocardiography, which uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to produce detailed images of the heart, known as echocardiograms.
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...
941
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests01:23

Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests

Mitral stenosis is a heart condition in which the mitral valve, which allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, becomes narrowed or stenotic. This narrowing hinders blood flow and leads to clinical symptoms requiring specific medical evaluations and management strategies. The following overview outlines the clinical symptoms, assessments, diagnostic findings, prevention methods, and treatments for mitral stenosis.Clinical ManifestationsDyspnea (shortness of breath): This...
513