title: [Echocardiography and pulmonary arterial hypertension].
abstract: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is an heterogeneous condition brought on by a wide range of causes. It is characterized by structural changes in small pulmonary arteries, that produce a progressive increase in pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, ultimately leading to right ventricle failure and death. Given the non-specific nature of its early symptoms and signs, PAH is often diagnosed in its advanced stages. Along with a careful clinical assessment and an accurate electrocardiogram/Chest X-ray interpretation, echocardiography is an essential test in the evaluation of patient with PAH. In fact it not only provides an accurate estimate of pulmonary pressure at rest and during exercise, but may also help to exclude any secondary causes, predict the prognosis, monitor the efficacy of specific therapeutic interventions and detect the preclinical stage of the disease.
authors: Istituto di Malattie dell'Apparato Respiratorio, Università di Milano, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milano. ebossone@hotmail.com
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Bossone
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Citro
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Ruggiero
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: Kuersten
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Gregorio
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Blasi
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Allegra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004452:Echocardiography; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011379:Prognosis; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013177:Sports