Range of tricuspid regurgitation velocity at rest and during exercise in normal adult men: implications for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the full range of tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity (TRV) at rest and with exercise in disease free individuals. Additionally we examined the relationship of stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and TRV to exercise capacity.


BACKGROUND
Doppler evaluation of TRV can be used to estimate pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Most studies have assumed TRV < or = 2.5 m/s as the upper limits of normal. The full range of TRV with exercise has been incompletely defined.


METHODS
Highly conditioned athletes (n = 26) and healthy, active, young male volunteers (n = 14) underwent standardized recumbent bicycle exercise. Exercise parameters included: TRV, SV, CO, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) systemic blood pressure.


RESULTS
Tricuspid valve regurgitation, SV, HR and CO were significantly higher in athletes than in nonathletes over all workloads, including rest. Systolic blood pressure and DBP did not show significant differences between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study defines the upper physiologic limits of TRV at rest and during exercise in normals and provides a noninvasive standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
Bossone
E
E
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0273, USA.
Rubenfire
M
M
Bach
D S
DS
Ricciardi
M
M
Armstrong
W F
WF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012146:Rest; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology