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Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Published on: June 27, 2025
Right Heart Evaluation: A Tough Challenge for Clinicians
Martina Pucci1, Luca Maria Capece1, Mariateresa Pontoriero1
1Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Abstract:
The right heart-pulmonary circulation unit (RH-PCU) constitutes an integrated anatomo-functional system characterized by high-volume blood flow, low intravascular pressure, and minimal pulmonary vascular resistance. The RH-PCU dysfunction is a challenge for clinicians, as it can result from numerous pathological conditions, each with different clinical presentations. The pathophysiological changes underlying the hemodynamic alterations in the pressure and volume affecting the right ventricle can lead the patient to present with the primary symptom: dyspnea. We review the clinical presentation, the laboratory test, and the role of multimodality imaging in the evaluation of the disfunction of the RHPCU, including echocardiography, stress echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging, and invasive pressure measurement through catheterization. We therefore aimed to describe the various diagnostic options available to clinicians, evaluating their effectiveness and limitations of use.
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