Echocardiographic pitfalls in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension

The M-mode echocardiographic pattern of pulmonary arterial hypertension was found in a patient with patent ductus arteriosus and normal pulmonary pressure at catheterization. It is suggested that in this case, as in others reported in the literature, not only pressure but also the pattern of pulmonary blood flow may influence pulmonary valve position in systole and accordingly its echocardiographic representation.