Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
10:03

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Published on: June 27, 2025

752

Relationship between pulmonary artery acceleration time and pulmonary artery pressures in infants

Jessica S Gaulton1, Laura M Mercer-Rosa2, Andrew C Glatz2

  • 1Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|July 2, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT) shows a weak inverse correlation with pulmonary artery pressures in infants. This relationship is less reliable in infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), suggesting PAAT may be less useful for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension in this group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Neonatology
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT) inversely correlates with pulmonary artery pressures in older children and adults.
  • Data on this relationship in young infants, especially preterm infants, is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the relationship between PAAT and pulmonary artery pressures in infants.
  • To assess the utility of PAAT in diagnosing pulmonary hypertension in neonates and infants.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of infants ≤ 1 year of age undergoing echocardiography and cardiac catheterization.
  • Exclusion of infants with congenital heart disease, except for PDA, ASD, or VSD.
  • Linear regression analysis to correlate PAAT with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), and indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRi).

Main Results:

  • Fifty-seven infants were included; 61% were preterm and 77% had a PDA.
  • A weak inverse correlation was found between PAAT and mPAP (r = -0.35), sPAP (r = -0.29), and PVRi (r = -0.29).
  • The correlation was less robust compared to studies in older children, likely due to a high incidence of PDAs.

Conclusions:

  • The inverse relationship between PAAT and pulmonary artery pressures is weak in infants.
  • PAAT may have limited clinical utility for diagnosing pulmonary arterial hypertension in infants, particularly those with PDAs.
  • Further research is needed to establish reliable non-invasive markers for pulmonary hypertension in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
Doppler echocardiographypatent ductus arteriosuspediatric echocardiographypulmonary arterypulmonary artery hypertensionpulmonary hypertension

More Related Videos

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

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery

Published on: February 20, 2017

15.0K
A Large Animal Model for Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Ventricular Failure: Left Pulmonary Artery Ligation and Progressive Main Pulmonary Artery Banding in Sheep07:02

A Large Animal Model for Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Ventricular Failure: Left Pulmonary Artery Ligation and Progressive Main Pulmonary Artery Banding in Sheep

Published on: July 15, 2021

3.6K

Related Concept Videos

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors01:28

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are potent enzymes that function to hydrolyze cyclic nucleotides to their corresponding 5' monophosphates. Their unique biochemical properties have been applied in treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).
Among the PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil (Revatio) stands out as a competitive and selective inhibitor. It operates by elevating cellular levels of cGMP and augmenting signaling through the cGMP-PKG pathway, promoting vasodilation. Upon oral...
578
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists01:18

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides critical in the human body's various physiological and pathological processes. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves counteracting the effects of these endothelins using a class of drugs known as endothelin receptor antagonists.
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme...
445
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
475
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure01:16

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure

Oxygen therapy has emerged as a significant tool in enhancing the quality of life for patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). While this therapy has principally been studied on patients with significant hypoxemia, this therapeutic approach helps prevent potential organ damage and can be administered in the comfort of one's home.
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue,...
597
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
464
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
879